Engineer a Spider Web

Spiders are amazing builders. Today your little one is the engineer: they stretch straws, sticks and yarn across an opening and hold it all together with playdough. Can their web hold a spider without falling down?

What you need

• Playdough

• Straws, craft sticks or pipe cleaners

• Yarn or string

• An opening to build across: an empty box with the lid off, the space between two chair legs, or two stacks of books

• Optional: a pom-pom or a small toy spider to test the web

How to do it

1. Look first. Watch the Sprocket's Workshop part of this week's episode together, or look at a picture of a real web. "See how the lines go across and around?"

2. Make the anchors. Press a ball of playdough onto each side of the opening. These hold the web in place.

3. Build across. Push straws or sticks into the playdough so they cross the opening. Add more lines going different ways.

4. Wrap it. Wind yarn around and between the sticks, the way a spider goes around and around.

5. Test it. Set a pom-pom spider on the web. Does it hold? What could make it stronger?

Why we love it

This is real engineering: plan, build, test and fix. Kids learn that some joins hold and some slip, and that more lines usually make a stronger web. It's a hands-on answer to this week's workshop question, "Can a spider web stretch without breaking?"

Tips from our table

• Two-year-olds do best with three or four long straws. Older kids can add more lines and a yarn spiral.

• If the web sags, add more playdough at the anchors or another stick across the middle.

• Stay close with the yarn and pipe cleaners, and put the playdough away when you're done.

Shop these items

Everything mentioned in this post, in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• Play-Doh 10-pack

• Paper straws

• Craft yarn

• Pipe cleaners

• Jumbo craft sticks

• Shop everything for Week 7: Spiders

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our Spider activities, Letter G activities and Number 7 activities.

Every child is different. Please use your own judgment about what's safe and right for your family. Always supervise children during activities and while eating, and adjust foods for allergies, dietary needs and your child's age and chewing ability. Sprocket & Sprout shares these ideas for fun and learning only. We are not responsible for any injury, allergic reaction, damage or mess that may result from trying them. This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.