SPIDER LEVER PUPPETS - LEADER PAGE
Lever Powered Puppetry!
Our Spider Lever Puppets are a fabulous activity to fuse STEAM learning & seasonal fun. Perfect for Halloween or Spring-time investigations, kids love making kinetic inventions with the help of simple machines. Enjoy our suite of printable templates, videos and teaching tools. Plus, download our Spider Species Trading Cards to connect designs with deep life science investigations.
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2nd-8th Grade
Adult Learners
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1-1.5 hours
Chunk out in phases like video tutorials below
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Seasonal
Engineering
Simple Machines
Design Process
Literacy & Storytelling
Theater
Visual Art
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In-Class, Hybrid or Online Learning
Implementation Steps
Overview
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If you ordered a kit, you will have supplies in it.
If you haven't ordered a kit, use the Supply Planner below to collect materials and tools for class.
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If you ordered a kit, you will have templates and handouts in it.
If you haven't ordered a kit, download and print any needed planners, templates & handouts below. And, check our Standards sheet to align this program with NGSS & Common Core Standards.
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Explore our gallery of student work for inspiration. And, check out our cool Spider Trading Cards to get inspired by spider species and adaptations.
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Watch the video tutorials and make several class samples. This allows you to learn the project, extend your ideas & trouble-shoot.
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Have a ball creating! You can show the video tutorials & slideshows in class to help guide you. You can also print and laminate our Quick Start Guide.
Planners, Templates & Handouts
Download Resources
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Print all templates onto cardstock
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Eurekus programs are easy to tailor to meet different learning goals. Here are some ideas of what teachers have done to adapt the program and make it their own.
Create Spider Lever Puppets for Halloween celebrations.
Integrate with a unit on pollinators & pests.
Integrate with non-fiction reading, research & writing.
Use to activate the study of species, adaptations and habitats.
Make in summer camps and after school programs.
Video Tutorial
Watch the following video as you create a cool custom puppet. Plus, download our Spider Trading Cards to explore fascinating spider species.
Slideshow Instructions
Watch the following slideshow with tips for making a Spider Lever Puppet. These are great to project in class to follow along as you create.
Collect supplies. The templates should be printed onto cardstock. You'll also want markers & decorative items.
Rough cut the paper around your shapes. This will make your final cutting easier.
Cut out all body parts and the lever connect along the solid black lines. Do not cut the dashed lines.
The diagrams are on the back of the puppet. Flip your parts over to see the blank front sides. Decorate with markers or scrapbook paper.
Fold the lever connector shape in half on the dashed lines.
Add stick glue or hot glue inside the connector. Fold in half again to secure.
Punch small holes in all the circle diagrams. You can use an Adjustable Leather Hole Punch on a small setting.
If you don't have a hole punch, poke holes in all the circles with a thumb tack.
Then insert a pencil point and twist to make your holes a bit larger.
You will match corresponding holes in ABC order. Then you will connect them with mini brads.
Match hole A to A and add a brad. Open the brad tabs on the back side with the diagrams. Match and connect B to B, C to C, D to D and so on.
Some parts will attach to the body. Other parts will attach to the lever connectors. Remember, to connect parts in alphabetical order.
Continue matching and connecting all holes. Note, some may be under the lever connector.
Push and pull your lever connector to test your movements.
Hot glue a jumbo popsicle stick to the back of the puppet body.
Hot glue a regular stick to the lever connector.
Do not glue your sticks together! Slide them up and down to make your legs move.
Add other cool designs & 3D elements.
STEAM In Action
Check out these awesome examples of student work!
COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
This curriculum is developed and owned by Eurekus LLC and is intended for educational purposes only. No portion of the instructional webpage or associated materials can be copied, distributed or edited for commercial purposes without the express written consent from Eurekus LLC. Templates and handouts provided may only be printed or photocopied by the purchaser for educational, non-commercial purposes. No portion of the curricula, videos, lessons, templates and instructional materials may be copied, shared or distributed without the expressed written permission of Eurekus LLC. © EUREKUS LLC 2023