Page 2 - Kind News, Jr. Parent Guide, Sept Oct 2020

ANSWER KEY

Critter Clues FROM PAGE 3
Our mystery critter is the jumping spider. With over 5,000 species
of jumping spiders — about 13% of all spiders — they make up the largest spider
family. Jumping spiders exist all around the world and are very adaptable, living
in different types of habitats, from mountainous areas to deserts.
The jumping spider gets its name from its ability to jump long distances. Instead of
front page, from top: tara lenehan; redrover. this page, from top: suman ghosh/bigstock; tara lenehan; raja: bryan huff.
building a web, it catches its prey by jumping on it. The spider uses hydraulic pressure to
extend its legs fully by contracting muscles to increase blood flow to its legs. Because of
this special ability, it can sometimes jump up to 50 times its body length! Although the spider doesn’t use a web,
it does spin a silk line to act as a safety net in case it needs to abandon its mission mid-jump.
The jumping spider has excellent vision. It has four pairs of eyes! Although its eyes can’t move, it has binocular
vision, which allows both eyes to work together to focus on insects about 20cm away, helping the spider distinguish
between prey and danger.
Jumping spiders are much more likely to run away from humans than to bite. When they do bite, it is usually in
self-defense. Their venom is not poisonous to humans.
People’s first instinct upon encountering a jumping spider (or any spider) in their home is often to kill it. However,
having spiders inside can actually be helpful! Spiders prefer to avoid humans and are important predators in the indoor
ecosystem, catching insects. How can you counteract children’s fear of spiders? Help them learn cool facts about
spiders and why they are important members of our ecosystem. This will help them understand why co-existing with
spiders can be beneficial.

Personality Puzzle answers FROM PAGE 7 DO ACTIVITIES
ONLINE AT
KINDNEWS.ORG!
ACROSS

4. You act playful or goofy. You are silly.
5. You find it easy to be around people. You are friendly.
6. You have courage. You are brave.
7. You make people laugh. You are funny.

DOWN
1. You are good at solving problems. You are clever.
2. You are eager to learn. You are curious. Where’s Raja?
3. You are helpful and treat others well. You are kind. Raja is hiding on page 3!

4. You are bashful and find it hard to be around people. You are shy.

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