LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Classroom » Reference

spider map

Learn more about spider map

Getting to know spiders
This lesson is useful for helping students understand the differences between spiders and insects. They will also learn about a spider's particular body parts. Live spiders will be observed over the course of a few days to see how sound, light, and movement affect the spiders.
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Science)
By Bree Welmaker.
What in the World Does This Have to Do With Maps and Globes?
This lesson focuses on the similarities and differences between a globe and a flat world map. It introduces critical vocabulary relating to cardinal directions and longitude and latititude.
Format: lesson plan (grade 3 English Language Development and Social Studies)
By Phebe Watson and Sylvia Easterling.
Bubba: A Cinderella story
This lesson focuses on the whimsical interpretation of the Cinderella story. Students explore the story Bubba, the Cowboy Prince, through rich text and interpretations of the story.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and English Language Development)
By Jennifer Fessler and Karen Wright.
Spinning spider stories
This interdisciplinary lesson is designed to introduce students to the purpose and process of comparative literature. The literary selections may be altered according to audience and purpose, from grades 5 through 8.
Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
By Edie McDowell.
Learning literary elements through African and African American folktales
In this eighth grade lesson, students will apply their knowledge of literary elements (plot structure and archetypal characters) to the analysis and creation of African and African American folktales. Students will work in groups to read several picture book versions of African and African American folktales. Each group then creates a plot map for a story and highlights other literary elements identified within the text. Students then compare the folktales with fairy tales from other cultures and explain what they learned about African and African American culture from reading the folktales. Finally, students work independently to write their own modern-day folktale.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts)
By Hardin Engelhardt.

Find all 8 resources in our collection.

A graphic organizer used to describe the attributes and functions of a central idea or theme. Each central theme has four or more branches to organize details, resembling a spider.

See also graphic organizer.

Additional information

Spider maps can be used to help a student organize thoughts and learning about a topic, to identify areas in need of further investigation, or to prepare for writing assignment.

Examples and resources

A spider map template can be found through the California schools online support website.