Jumper

Discussion questions 

• Jumper detects vibrations through her exoskeleton using special organs called strain sensors. The tiny hairs covering her body also help her to detect sound. These senses help her find food and keep her safe. What different senses does your own body use to tell you that you’re hungry, or to alert you that danger is near?

• Jumping spiders have eight eyes so they can see in multiple directions at once. How is that helpful to Jumper? Do you think it would be helpful if humans could see in multiple directions at the same time, too?

• Have you ever felt afraid of a spider, or do you know somebody who is? Why do you think some people are afraid of spiders? Do you think someone who is afraid of spiders would feel the same after reading this book?

Publisher content 

• Spider Body Parts Activity - Create a booklet to help students learn the anatomy of the jumping spider! This activity is created by Jessica Lanan, with different instructions suggested  for lower and upper elementary classes. - https://www.jessicalanan.com/Spider-Body-Parts-Activity.pdf

• Spider Coloring Sheet - A coloring sheet created by Jessica Lanan - http://jessicalanan.com/jumper-coloring-sheet.pdf

Activities

• Long Jump - Jumping spiders jump 5 times the length of their bodies. How far would humans be able to jump if we could do the same? Measure a student’s height and multiply by 5 (or have them do the same with partners for older students). Mark that distance on the floor using a measuring tape and masking tape, and see how far they can jump along that distance without a running start. 

• Visualizing from Jumper’s perspective - Ask students to imagine an object in their everyday lives that is the same size as the distance described above (5 times the length of their body) and draw themselves leaping over it. What super power features might they add to their bodies or clothing that could help them make that jump?
  
  In the book, we see the backyard from Jumper’s perspective. Discuss the meaning of perspective (viewpoint, position) and have students draw a scene from the outlook of an animal of their choosing- how would a bird’s view differ from a squirrel’s? What would the classroom look like from Jumper’s perspective?

• Go for a spider walk - Jumping spiders are among the most common in the world. Take a walk on a warm, sunny day and you might be able to spot them hunting. The backmatter in Jumper has a great guide for finding spiders, along with encouragement for students not to harm them.

Companion books