Beginning: Sing the song: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” Discuss spiders and their body parts, eyes, legs, etc.Talk about how we also have eyes and legs. Say, “Today we are going to make spider sandwiches that we can eat.”
Middle: During small group at the table, give each child a tray with the supplies that they need to make their spider.Tell them that the raisins could be eyes and the chow mien noodles could be legs.Encourage them to explore putting the peanut butter or cream cheese on their crackers and adding the other ingredients.Encourage tasting!
End:Eat their spider sandwiches together.Sing, “Itsy Bitsy Spider” as everyone cleans up.Give each child their own dish rag to wipe their space on the table.
Extensions and Modifications: To modify this activity, spread the peanut butter for younger children.Another modification would be to use small spatulas instead of plastic knives.To extend this activity, encourage children to make other kinds of bugs, add different toppings.A variation of this activity would be Ants on a Log and singing: “The Ants go Marching.”
Originating
Idea:Like all of us, children enjoy the
satisfaction of setting out to do a task, and accomplishing the goal.As toddlers grow, their self-confidence
begins to bloom when they try things that were previously done for them; they
feel a sense of pride. Older children may say, “I can do it myself.”This activity is not so much focused on goal
setting, but rather to encourage the feeling one gets when they do things
independently.
Materials
Needed:Ritz
crackers or any round butter cracker, bowl of peanut butter or spreadable cream
cheese can be used (If peanut free room), raisins, chow mien noodles, plates
that have dividers or trays, and plastic knives. Prepare enough for each child
to have their own.Damp dish rags.
Curriculum
Content: KDI 1: Initiative, KDI 2: Problem Solving, KDI 3: Self
Help, KDI 25: More, KDI 27 Number, KDI 12 Moving parts of the body.
The spider sandwiches do not have to be made perfectly. Eating them is the best part!