During our recent spider theme activities we had a lot of fun singing and dancing along to the Itsy Bitsy Spider (or eensy weensy, whatever version you prefer). To extend the use of this rhyme, we made an Itsy Bitsy Sticky wall. It turned out to be one of the most frequently used items throughout our theme.
FIND EVEN MORE SPIDER THEME ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRINTABLE LESSON PLANS
FOR HOME PRESCHOOL AND PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS.
This post contains affiliate links.
Materials
- Foam Sheets
- Contact Paper
- Painter’s Tape
- Foam or felt spider and spider web (You can cut your own or use one from another set. We purchased ours at JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores.)
Preparation
Use painter’s tape to secure the clear contact paper to the wall with the sticky side facing out.
Cut out the basic pieces for the rhyme from the foam sheets. You can get as fancy as you’d like. I made very simple cuts.
Each day we used the sticky wall to sing and act out the Itsy Bitsy nursery rhyme. The kids also explore the wall on their own many times throughout the day. The toddlers moved the pieces around and felt the different textures of the foam and the paper.
The preschoolers liked making up different stories with the pieces. We also incorporated a little bit of math practice. First we sorted the raindrops by kind.
We also put them in order from smallest to largest.
For just a few minutes of preparation and minimal expense we had a lot of fun with this activity. The girls still haven’t let me take it down…maybe after Halloween!
The Amazon affiliate widget below includes some of our favorite books about spiders, including a couple of fun versions of The Itsy Bitsy Spider.
GET A FULL WEEK OF SPIDER THEME ACTIVITIES
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.
Learn some facts about real spiders and use toy spiders to learn math, literacy and science concepts in this full lesson plan pack for preschool. Watch this short video to see just a few examples of the types of activities and printables included in this set:
The full 31-page Spider Theme Lesson Plan Pack also includes:
- My Spider Emergent Reader
- Spider Babies Fine Motor Activity Mat
- Spider Patterning Task Cards
- Spider Roll and Add Counting Game
- Spider Letter Building Mat
- Itsy Bitsy Spider Story Sequencing Pieces
- Spider Calendar (or general number) Cards
GET YOUR LESSON PLANS
Home Preschool Spider Theme Lesson Plans (in our shop or on TpT)
Preschool Classroom Spider Theme Lesson Plans (in our shop or on TpT)
Teresa S
I love the Itsy Bitsy Spider!!! 😍😍🕷🕷🕷🌧☀️🕷🕷🕷🕸😍😍 It was my favorite nursery rhyme when I was little.
Heather
I haven’t tried a sticky wall before. How long does it last? I’ll have 20 different children playing with it throughout the day. I usually use felt boards or magnets, but this would be a different tactile experience for them. Cute, yet simple idea 🙂
Shaunna Evans
How long it lasts depends on what you’re sticking to it. With foam sets we have better luck than with things like pom poms and fabric that leave bits behind. I’d say this would easily last for a week in a classroom, maybe longer depending on the frequency of use. After that you might need to replace the contact paper, but you can continue to use the pieces that you’re sticking to it.
Sugar Aunts
Love this! We will be featuring this on our Share it Saturday features this week, thanks for linking up!
Bek @ Just For Daisy
Such a great idea! 🙂 We’ve got some cute sequence cards for Incy Wincy Spider but I really love this idea! Great way to hold the contact paper too… this could even be 1 year old proof – she tore ours off the window last time! 🙂 Look forward to trying this one! x
Shaunna Evans
Ha! Well, it survived our one year old. He did repeatedly remove the pieces and put them on the floor, but that just encouraged the girls to start over retelling the story. I hope it works out at your house, too!
Sarah @HowWeeLearn
What a great idea! I love contact paper – but had never thought of making a sticky wall!! We will be going this soon!
Shaunna Evans
Do it! We’ve tried a lot of them, and the kids have so much fun.
Sharon
I love this!!! It’s perfect for my next lesson!!! I love your spider and spider web….would you have any templates you care to share?? 🙂
Shaunna Evans
I’m so glad you’ll be able to use the idea. Unfortunately I don’t have any templates. The spider and spider web were purchased at JoAnn’s and the other pieces I did freehand. I hope they won’t be too difficult to recreate.