The Itsy Bitsy Rhyming Spider

“Hey mom, look at what I found.”  That is how this whole idea started. We were outside on a gorgeous 70 degree almost fall day.

I love when my kids discoveries launch us into a learning investigation and this one has a little science, a little engineering, and a little dose of literacy activities.

The timing was perfect because this week the Early Childhood Education was focusing on Fall STEM activities.

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So, what did my son find sitting in this tree?

“What is that mom?  Can I touch it?”

So, the discovery began.  We talked about what those little white dots could be on the branch.  Since there was a spider web right next door, our best guess was they were spider sacs.
Next step, we hit the library and borrowed a few books to explore.  A few titles we explored included: National Geographic Readers: Spiders,  I’m Trying to Love Spiders, and Spinning Spiders.

It’s amazing that when you notice something, you start to see that “thing” everywhere.  We started to find spider webs in the bushes, in the nooks and crannies of the foundation walls and the skylight in our living room.  Yes, I need to dust more!

So, the other things that take place on an almost daily basis is singing and rhyming in our house.  All this spider talk turned into several renditions of  “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

On the way home from the library, I posed the question, “Do you think you could engineer a water spout for a spider?”  The wheels started turning about materials that could be used, where to set the contraption up and how to make it stand.

Now, if you are a regular reader of Growing Book by Book (which you should be), then you know I look for ways to squeeze in literacy into our play.  So, when it was time to pick a spider to climb that homemade water spout, we played a little rhyming game.

I picked up a package of toy spiders from my favorite hangout (Target Dollar Spot) and placed a rhyming picture next to each arachnid.

Time to play.  I called out a word and my son had to choose the spider that was sitting next to the word that rhymed with my word.  Easy peasy!  A quick little way to practice rhyming.

So get your Itsy Bitsy Spider groove on and have fun exploring spiders and rhyming!

The Early Childhood Education Team (#teachECE) has more Fall STEM ideas. Check them out below.

But wait, before you go… you don’t want to miss more great book recommendations and  literacy ideas I share each week.  I send out a weekly newsletter. You can see a sample here.  If you like what you see, sign up to receive it for FREE each week.

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