BUGSCOPE PROJECT Daddy Long Legs (Pholcidae) By: Rachel Ryan EDUC 140 Thursday, October 13 th, 2005

Images My personal drawing of a daddy long legs (prior to viewing through the microscope) Another Viewing of Daddy Long Legs to naked eye

IMAGES continued Microscope viewing of a bug ON a daddy long legs spider More common view of daddy long legs through microscope

MORE microscope images Under a microscope, ring-like impressions are discernible on the long and apparently flexible tarsi (the last segment of the leg). Clearly, the details are far more precise through the electron microscope

Websites #1= (Museum of Cape Town) #2= Both of these websites are informative and easily navigable for students. The first website gives detailed information about the family Pholcidae, which includes daddy long legs. Random facts from website #1= –These spiders are harmless to man because their jaws are unable to penetrate human skin –Spider hangs in a messy, irregular, tangled web that are found in caves, under rocks, and in cellars. They are often referred to as “cellar spiders” –Once the spider has gathered food, it doesn’t always eat it immediately; it often stores it for later. –FRAGILE spiders: body is 2-10 mm and legs are up to 30 mm long. –The eggs are carried by the female and are attached to the web while she feed.

Website #2 This website is short, yet concise and easily navigable for young students. The pictures are colorful and the overall setup of “Yahooligans! Animals” is neat. There are many animals and insects that can be researched with easy to read information. Daddy Long Legs, formal name= Phalangium Opilio Most spiders have two body parts, while daddy long legs only have ONE. These insects do not bite and use their second pair of legs to feel their way, similar to the way other insects use antennae. Reddish-brown body with four pairs of long, thread like legs Habitat= woods, fields

Images from BUGSCOPE This image is from the Science Discovery Center in Santa Ana, California, entitled Spider Eyes and fangs at a magnification of 200X

Image #2 from Bugscope This is another image of spider setae from Cement High School in Oklahoma This shows the detail and extreme magnification that Bugscope’s microscopes provide

Daddy Long Legs Pincers 327 X magnification This picture is the perfect view for me to compare my drawing with. It is quite detailed and actually gives the student a perfect perspective of what the spider looks like at 327x magnified.

NSES standard for Bugscope Life Science CONTENT STANDARD C: As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop understanding of The characteristics of organisms: –Students will be able to identify the main facts and details about daddy long legs Life cycles of organisms : –Students will be able to discuss the life cycle of the daddy long leg and similar insects in its family. Organisms and environments : –Students will be able to identify where daddy long legs live and the general components of their living sphere.

Technology in the Classroom: The Microscope Technology is an absolutely amazing facet to every classroom’s access. There is a plethora of information accessible via the internet and even more ways to learn science through a microscope! ESEM= environmental scanning electron microscope…is a tool that would be amazing in every classroom. It gives students hands on experience and allows them to see images not visible to the naked eye. The ESEM “field-emission source permits very high resolution imaging of coated or naturally conductive samples under normal high-vacuum and high-voltage conditions”.

Authenticity of the technology of Microscopes in the classroom The use of microscopes gives students a whole new meaning to learning. It is authentic in the sense that there is no other way to see an object or insect that largely magnified. The technology of the program BugScope is amazing for kids because it shows how technology can span universally. It allows them to see something that another person is viewing across the country. That is a very interesting and cool fact for students. BugScope goes beyond the typical classroom setup and encourages students’ range of imagination and discovery

Literary Sources 1. Kaston, B.J How to Know the Spiders. 3rd Ed. Wm. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa.* 2. Levi, H. & L. Levi Golden Guide to Spiders & Their Kin. Golden Press, NY.* 3. = this is a really cool website about Spiders with tons of links, including what are spiders, why study spiders, how to study spiders, and pictures of spiders. 4. Gertsch, W.J American Spiders. 2nd Ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold, NY.*

More Resources, specific to elementary ages Little Miss Spider, David Kurk The Very Busy Spider, Eric Carle The Very Quiet Cricket, a Multi-Sensory Book, Eric Carle El Gato Arana, N.Bayley

Ways to Tie in Literature to Lesson Plans Elementary book on Spiders= –Each student will have their OWN SPIDER –Students will collect other insects outside such as flies and grasshoppers to feed their spiders –Students will observe the spiders using magnifying classes and record their observations (recordings will be part of lesson assessment) –Ask questions such as: How many students like spiders?, How many students do not like spiders? Why or why not? Must give valid response.

Lesson ideas continued Making a Spider Vivarium –My students will study spiders by observing them in a close to natural environment. We will make a spider vivarium that will allow them to describe the spider’s physical features, eating habits, mating habits, and possible reproducing behaviors. –We will make the Vivarium together as a class, including materials such as a large fish tank, soil, tape, flashlight, leaves, rocks, branches, etc. –This will encourage my student’s to work HANDS ON while learning more about spiders!!!

THE END!!!!!! THE END!!!!!!