Thomas County students routinely engage in “Makerspace” enrichment experiences in the Garrison-Pilcher Media Center.  To complete the end of the creepy season of late October, Media Specialist Elexis Griffin began a “Creature Catchers” activity with a lesson about living/non-living things involving spiders. First, the second grade students had to identify the things that would be living on the table. Then, the students drew on the dry-erase surface table what they thought a spider uses to catch its prey.

“This open-ended part of the lesson allowed the students to get their ideas down of what they eventually would make,” said Griffin.  

Students were then given a group of pipe cleaners, clothespins, and plastic spider rings. Students then created a “catcher” out of the materials on the table. Griffin discussed with the students what shapes and everyday items could be used to catch a spider and which ones would not work. Next, students drop spiders, one by one, to see how many total they could catch. Students also had to repair and adjust their catcher if the spiders fell through and tell Griffin why they had to change their contraption.

“The students were so engaged and actually got to keep one of their creatures to take with them. They loved it!” said Griffin.