STR Micro-Lesson: A Face Only a Mother Could Love
(click on image to see enlarged version,
right click on that image to save it to
your desktop or another location)
Question
There are people who say this is one of the most poisonous animals in the world, but in reality it's not even close. Still, what you see in this picture is the last sight seen by many a struggling victim. What is it?
Answer
The daddy long-legs (or "Jenny long-legs", if you happen to live in Scotland) is found in garages and cellars across America, and on every other continent. According to myth, it is highly poisonous. In truth, its venom is relatively weak, though powerful enough to subdue its prey of mosquitos and other insects (a fact which should--but usually doesn't--make it welcome in homes).
Micro-Lesson* Plan
Topics: Animal Classification
Download the enlarged version of the image above and show it to your class (using a projector or a color printout). Ask the question just below the image. You may wish to give hints.
Once you have elicited or presented the answer, ask students how spiders are different from insects, and guide the ensuing discussion to focus on the classification of spiders (Animalia/Arthropoda/Arachnida) and the characteristics of those animals that cause them to be placed in that phylum and class.
You may also wish to use this context as an opportunity to consider with students how scientists determine whether or not something is true (such as the myth of the highly poisonous daddy long-legs).
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*STR Micro-Lessons™ are designed as "plug-ins" to support and augment standards-based science teaching and learning. For complete lessons using the Scope on a Rope handheld digital microscope, see the STR Teacher Resources page.
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