Jumping Spiders - DIY Fall Game!

DIY Jumping Spider Game - Kids Love it!

Wooden "Spider's Web" shown on a box.

JUMPING SPIDERS - SETUP & DIRECTIONS

Short Carnival Savers video/gif shows a stuffed spider on a catapult being launched onto a wooden spider web.

Supplies for Jumping Spiders Game:

2 (1 x 4) wooden boards (about 18 inches and 6 inches)
Plywood (half a sheet about 4 ft x 4 ft) and Jigsaw to cut spider web shape (1 Launcher, 1 Landing pad as shown)
Hardware - 2 Hinges (One large, one small) and screws and screwdriver
"L" Shaped metal Bracket - cut to 4 inches wide (you need a saw for cutting)
Screws to secure bracket to board and hing to bracket (see details below)
Paint - we used orange, black and purple
Rubber Mallet
2 Tables (an adjustable is ideal) - we used two 4 foot tables and positioned in a "T" shape
1 box or brick smaller than the spiders web to elevate it off the table
12 Plush Spiders for jumping
Consolation and top carnival prizes (see discount prizes below)

How to Make This Game:

Weeks before the carnival, have a woodworking adult construct the "spider launcher and spiders web landing pad" using building supplies listed above and our summary sheet you can click to Download the Jumping Spiders 5 Steps to Making this Game.

First, your volunteer will need to make the Launch Pad and Wooden Spiders Web landing pad.

Our Launch Pad is about 30 inches long by 23 inches wide with rounded corners. Our "Web" is about 15 inches cut in an spider's web shape.

Next, you will need to make a "SeeSaw".

(Including the wooden flap at the end that allows you to launch your penguin forward, not straight up in the air.)

You can make the seesaw myriads of different ways, but we are showing you a method that worked for our game.

First, cut your 1 x 4 board to make your two boards, one "the launcher" about 18 inches in length, the second small board "the flapper" will be about 6 inches in length.

Using your metal "L" shaped bracket, cut the bracket with a saw to about 4 inches wide.

Next, using screws, attach the smaller hinge to one end of your "flapper" board, and the larger hinge to the launcher board a few inches closer to the "hitting side" (to allow the seesaw to rest with the hitting side up in the air.)

Now attache to "L" bracket to the hinge. Now align the seesaw set on your Launch Pad (be sure to overlap the "flapper" board over the "launcher" board by an inch or so - and mark both boards with a pencil to know the placement when attaching.

Finally, attach the "launcher board" to your Launcher Pad using screws. Note: it is best to sink the screws into the board from the underside to make sure the Landing Pad rests flat.

Finally, attach your seesaw and wooden flap to the board and test out with your mallet.

Of course, you will want to paint it. We used fall colors on the launcher and flapper!

Feel free to add some black glitter to the web - that would add a nice touch!

Game Setup:

This game can be setup on a table or on the ground.

Volunteers have an easier time if this fall game is setup on a table (less bending to retrieve the spiders that did not land on the web).

As suggested above, it is a good idea to use a table with adjustable height and to have the table set on the lowest level so younger children can see and play this game too!

How to Play the Jumping Spiders:

Children are given 3 chances to hit the end of the launch pad and try to get the spider to land on the web.

Note: We generally give kids ONE practice run to see how hard to hit the end for the penguin to make it into the air!

Like so many carnival type games, this is somewhat a game of chance as the penguins may land on the iceberg, but bounce off.

Winnings can look like this:

0 Spiders on the Web = a consolation prize
1 or more Spiders on the Web = a Winning Prize

Additional Hints & Tips:

Note: Preschool children may have a tough time lifting the mallet and hitting it on the end of the wooden slat. Feel free to allow parents to help hold the mallet with the child to make this game easier for the little ones!