Indholdsfortegnelse for July/August 2021 i Spider Magazine Stories, Games, Activites and Puzzles for Children and Kids

“WHERE’S DANDELION?” Izzy Wishbones asked the minute Doodlebug opened the front door. “Not sure,” Doodlebug replied. He hadn’t seen his sister all morning. He’d been too busy playing Mr. Q, a game meant to teach you detective skills. “She told me she and Tomiko had made some jellybean machine,” Izzy said. “I’d like to see that. She said there’s a secret to it.” Doodlebug’s head came up. “Really?” He’d heard about the jellybean machine but not about anything secret. Tomiko, Dandelion’s best friend, lived across the street. Her dad, an inventor, always helped them with bizarre inventions. “Let’s go see.” If something secret was going on, Doodlebug could figure it out using his detective skills. Minutes later, Doodlebug and Izzy crept into Tomiko’s garage. Nobody was inside, but there was…

I wish that I could tell the time. Oh, wouldn’t that be great! Before school, I would tell time, “Stop,” If I were running late. At recess, I’d say, “Please, slow down.” (More playtime couldn’t hurt.) At dinner, I’d shout, “Hurry up,” And zoom straight to dessert. Yup, I’d just love to tell the time. Really, wouldn’t you? Sure, I know how to read a clock—But what good does that do?…

Contest RulesContest Draw a picture of an extra special clock. Here are the only rules: 1. Your entry must be signed by a parent or legal guardian, authorizing its publication in print and/or online and saying it’s your own idea. 2. Be sure to include your complete name, age, and address. 3. Your entry must arrive by July 25, 2021. We will publish our favorites in the November/December 2021 issue of Spider. Email your entry to spider@cricketmedia.com, or send it to Spider’s Corner, P.O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354.…

F OR HUNDREDS OF years, people have used codes and ciphers to send secret messages. In ancient Greece, commanders in the Spartan army needed to communicate over long distances. With no mail system, telephones, or computers to help them, soldiers carried messages on foot. Often enemies would attack the messengers and steal the dispatches, hoping to learn the army’s plans. Because of this, the Spartans came up with a special cipher, using a thin strip of paper or leather and a rod-shaped object called a scytale. These scytales were usually made of wood and could be as thin as your finger or as thick as your wrist. No matter what the size, scytales always came in identical sets of two. An officer would wind a thin strip of paper around…

Olivia Z., age 7 Ann Arbor, Michigan Tiny Egg A tiny egg, Lying in the grass, Silently and quietly. Is it a peachick? It can dance with the pride. Is it a duckling? It can follow my track as its mama. Tap! Crack! A forked tongue flicked out! Oh my! A SNAKE! RUN! RUN! Run for my life! Sophia Z., age 9 Ann Arbor, Michigan Chick Hatching Birdy Birdy does her best, Laying eggs in her nest. Birdy Birdy with her beak, Pecking each egg to have a peek. Which egg will come out first? Chirp, chirp! Birdy Birdy is so excited! Chick, chick! Hurry to grow up and get big! Like Momma, Happy to catch and happy to eat! Julius R., age 7 Cambridge, Massachusetts An Owl Egg When…

What You’ll Need: ½ cup jellybeans spatula 1 ½ cups chocolate chips parchment paper* ½ cup mini marshmallows large plate (microwave safe) *Only use parchment paper. Wax paper and foil don’t go in the microwave. Plastic wrap won’t work. What to Do: 1. Rip off a piece of parchment paper as long as the plate. Lay it on the plate. Put the chocolate chips on the parchment paper. Spread them out in a thin, even layer. 2. Have a grownup help you microwave the plate for two minutes or until the chocolate is mostly melted. 3. Use a spatula to smooth out the chocolate. Be extra careful not to touch the warm plate or the chocolate. 4. Gently drop the jellybeans, one at a time, all over the chocolate. Then…

“LOOK!” MOM SAID. Andy shoved a pair of old men’s shoes into a box labeled giveaway, then turned toward his mother. “These letters were way back inside that antique desk, like they were hiding!” Andy wiped sweat off his forehead. When Mom had convinced him to help clear out his great-grandmother’s attic, she’d made it sound like a treasure hunt. He’d expected to find something fantastic after the eight-hour car trip and the past week working in the hot attic where everything smelled like dead dust. The worst part of the job was realizing Granny wanted to stay in this house where she’d lived her whole life. Whenever Mom mentioned Garden Glen, the assisted living facility near Andy’s family’s home, Granny’s mouth drooped. Since they’d arrived, she hardly smiled and…

Dear Spider, Will you please adopt my fox, Mr. Waffles? He loooooves hugs and running on rainbows. Black is his favorite color. But let’s talk about his favorite food. He loves ice cream, but not chocolate. Mr. Waffles and I looooooove you, Spider. Celeste Kingsley Houston, Minnesota Dear Everybuggy, Will you please adopt  Beacon, my pet tiger? Can you tell me what’s on Miro’s menu? My fave mythology is Greek, and my favorite character is Ares. I drew this picture of Ares for you! Ciao! Bodhi V., age 9 Sebastopol, California Dear Bodhi, Today Miro is making a yummy dessert called Mousse au Chocolat. Bill asked him to put jellybeans on top. Love, Ophelia Dear Sonya, My favorite colors are purple and black. This is my first time writing mail.…

TAKE THIS SUNDIAL, or shadow clock, outside on a sunny day. It’s not as exact as a watch, but it’s more fun! What You'll Need:  scissors one side of an empty cereal box school glue scrap of wood or small box about 8 inches square What to Do: l. Cut out the opposite page along the orange dotted line, and glue it to the cereal box. You can use a book to weigh down the page while the glue dries. 2. When the glue is dry, cut out the sundial pattern along the solid black line. Then cut along the red line. 3. Fold along the black dotted lines so the brown section pops up. 4. Glue the two sides of the pop-up section together. 5. When the pop-up section…