Each week, Adam has handwriting homework from school. Although he enjoys mark making, Adam is reluctant to pick up a pencil at home. When he was completing his recent homework I could tell he was on the verge of a meltdown. Rather than perusing the task, I decided to quickly change the focus. I remembered we had a left over Paper Plate Spider from our Simple Halloween Crafts. Adam hadn’t placed googly eyes on this particular spider so it was ideal to use as a Spider Writing Tray.
(This post contains affiliate links)
Equipment needed to make a Spider Writing Tray
* Eight Black Plastic Straws
* Black plastic spider (similar to this)
* A set of Flashcards – we used the ABC and 123 Flashcards
from our Miles Kelly set.
1. Turn the black paper plate over. Use sellotape to attach the eight black straws. More detailed instructions can be found on our Simple Halloween Crafts post.
2. Pour table salt into the middle of the black paper plate.
3. Attach a black plastic spider to the round wooden lollipop stick. Our spider had a hole underneath which the stick could slot into. This will create a spider pencil.
How to use the Spider Writing Tray:
Place a googly eye on the alphabet flashcard where the letter formation should start. Then place another googly eye on top of the salt in the Spider Writing Tray. Get your little one to use the spider pencil to form the letter in the salt.
Once the letter is complete gently shake the paper plate spider and the letter will disappear. Repeat the process with a variety of different letters and numbers.
Adam couldn’t get enough of the activity. He went through his entire pack of Miles Kelly ABC flashcards and then requested to use the 123 Flashcard set too. Ironically for his homework he only had to write two letters and two numbers yet Adam chose to do all 26 letters and 20 numbers within the salt tray. He then asked if he could complete his pencil written homework.
Our Spider Writing Tray remained out for the rest of the week and was used frequently. I love it when Adam doesn’t realise he is learning through his play activities.
This weeks Virtual Book Club story is The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. Check out the other spider themed activities:
Printable Spider Web Letter Match Activity – Artsy Momma
Spider Writing Tray – Adventures of Adam
Alphabet spider sticky wall- Toddler Approved
Spider Web Fingerprint Counting (FREE PRINTABLE) – Messy Little Monster
Hands-on Spider Counting Activity – School Time Snippets
Spider Web Sensory Bin + Counting Activity – My Storytime Corner
Spider Types Matching Cards – Kori at Home
Feed the Spider Color Catapulting – Preschool Powol Packets
How to Make a Rainbow Spider Web – Powerful Mothering
Spider Web Sensory Bottle Activity – The Educators’ Spin On It
Spider Web Obstacle Course – Mama Smiles
You May Also Like:
- Sparkly Halloween Spider Web
- DIY Clay Spiders
- Little Miss Muffet Storytelling Box
- Giant Spider Threading
- Incy Wincy Spider Guttering Fun
- Halloween Straw Race
Love how you reused a craft to make a new activity! The writing tray is super cute!
Always looking for ways to re-use crafts and play resources 🙂