Animals & Environment
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28 Aug 2026
Tarantulas don’t need to see the world around them. They can feel it moving.
The Secret Super-Senses of the Tarantula Spider
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) Tarantulas use eight eyes to see prey clearly.
b) Tarantulas feel vibrations using tiny leg hairs.
c) Tarantulas build big aerial webs in trees.
Ask:
(1) Have you ever seen a tarantula or a big spider?
(2) How do you think spiders find food in the dark?
VOCABULARY
tarantula (/təˈræntjʊlə/, noun)
Meaning: A very large spider covered in fine hairs.
Example: The tarantula walked slowly across the brown soil.
eyes (/aɪz/, noun)
Meaning: The body parts used for seeing light and shapes.
Example: The spider has eight tiny eyes on its head.
hair (/heə/, noun)
Meaning: Fine thin strands growing on the body of an animal.
Example: Sensitive leg hair helps the spider feel movement.
ground (/ɡraʊnd/, noun)
Meaning: The solid surface of the Earth that animals walk on.
Example: Small insects walk on the dry ground at night.
silk (/sɪlk/, noun)
Meaning: Fine strong thread spun by spiders.
Example: The spider puts thin silk near its dark home.
hunt (/hʌnt/, verb)
Meaning: To chase and catch wild animals for food.
Example: Tarantulas hunt for insects when it is dark.
Do you know about the tarantula? A tarantula is a big spider. It has eight small eyes on top of its head. But this spider cannot see well at all. Its vision is very blurry. It only sees light and dark shadows.
So how does it move around? How does it find its food in the night? The tarantula uses special hairs on its long legs. These hairs are super sensitive. They feel small vibrations in the ground. When a tiny insect walks near, the ground moves. The spider feels this movement through its feet. It knows exactly where the insect is walking.
The spider also uses thin lines of silk. It lays silk on the ground near its dark burrow. When an insect touches the silk, the spider feels a quick shake. It rushes out fast to catch its meal. The spider smells and tastes things with its legs too. It does not need clear eyes to hunt in the dark.
Listen
Tarantulas use light to determine when it’s safe to emerge from their burrows.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Do you like spiders or are you scared of them?
(2) Why do you think tarantulas do not need good eyes?
(3) Would you like to touch a tarantula's soft leg hairs?
(4) What other animals hunt in the dark at night?
(5) How do you find things when your bedroom is dark?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: eyes, hairs, hunt, silk
Do you know about the tarantula? A tarantula is a big spider. It has eight small _______(1) on top of its head. But this spider cannot see well at all. Its vision is very blurry. It only sees light and dark shadows.
So how does it move around? How does it find its food in the night? The tarantula uses special _______(2) on its long legs. These hairs are super sensitive. They feel small vibrations in the ground. When a tiny insect walks near, the ground moves. The spider feels this movement through its feet. It knows exactly where the insect is walking.
The spider also uses thin lines of _______(3). It lays silk on the ground near its dark burrow. When an insect touches the silk, the spider feels a quick shake. It rushes out fast to catch its meal. The spider smells and tastes things with its legs too. It does not need clear eyes to _______(4) in the dark.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this text?
a) Tarantulas use special body senses instead of good eyes to hunt.
b) Tarantulas make big webs in trees to catch flying birds.
c) Tarantulas are friendly pets that love playing in daylight.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) A tarantula can see very clear pictures with its eight eyes. T/F
(2) The spider feels ground vibrations through its leg hairs and feet. T/F
(3) Tarantulas can smell and taste using sensors on their legs. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in the correct order from 1 to 3:
( ) The spider rushes out quickly to catch its food.
( ) A tiny insect touches a thin line of silk near the burrow.
( ) The tarantula feels a quick shake through its feet.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
(1) Tarantula
(2) Vibration
(3) Burrow
(4) Silk
(5) Prey
a) Fine strong thread made by spiders
b) An animal that is caught and eaten by another animal
c) A very large hairy spider
d) A small, fast shaking movement
e) An underground home made by an animal
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) Tarantulas have eight eyes, _______ they cannot see clear pictures.
a) but
b) so
c) because
(2) The spider feels small movements _______ its sensitive leg hairs.
a) under
b) with
c) onto
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) Unscramble the sentence parts into the correct order:
A) A tarantula
B) is a
C) very
D) big
E) spider.
(2) Unscramble the sentence parts into the correct order:
A) The spider
B) feels
C) small
D) vibrations
E) today.
ANSWER KEY
A1 Complete Answer Key
Warm Up Answer: b) Tarantulas feel vibrations using tiny leg hairs.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) eyes
(2) hairs
(3) silk
(4) hunt
Section 2: Main Idea
a) Tarantulas use special body senses instead of good eyes to hunt.
Section 3: True or False
(1) False
(2) True
(3) True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
3 - The spider rushes out quickly to catch its food.
1 - A tiny insect touches a thin line of silk near the burrow.
2 - The tarantula feels a quick shake through its feet.
Section 5: Vocab Match
(1) - c
(2) - d
(3) - e
(4) - a
(5) - b
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) a) but
(2) b) with
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) A - B - C - D - E (A tarantula is a very big spider.)
(2) A - B - C - D - E (The spider feels small vibrations today.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Open student answers focusing on basic present simple structures and spider facts.
Thank you for your feedback!