Most people think spiders are insects but scientists classify spiders as arachnids. Insects are different from arachnids in a number of ways. Spiders have eight legs but ants, bees, beetles and other insects have only six legs. And most insects have wings or antennae which are feelers. Arachnids include daddy long legs, scorpions, mites and ticks. Scientists classify spiders as either true spiders or Tarantulas, according to certain differences in their bodies such as the way their fangs point and move.
Project Ideas:
- How long do spiders live? How do they to perpetuate their species?
- Do all spiders have fangs? Are they all poisonous?
- What is a spiders web made out of? What is the general shape of a web? Do all spiders spin webs? Make models of different types of webs.
- How many different types of spiders are there? What are the most common in your area? Show photos of them.
Link Resources to Complete the Science Fair Project
- Spiders of North America
- Tarantula Tour
- The Arachnology Home Page
Related Science Fair Project Resources
Part of our Science Project Ideas Index
