A great way to compare and contrast insects and spiders is to use the book Little Miss Muffet Learns About Spiders. Similarly, The Little Miss Muffet Lyrics in this book illustrate five differences between insects and spiders.

The Original Little Miss Muffet Lyrics

Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

The poem dates back to the early 19th century in England. Thomas Muffet was a scientist from the 16th century who studied insects and spiders and their effects on medicine. Consequently, many believe Little Miss Muffet is about Patience, Thomas Muffet’s stepdaughter.

Little Miss Muffet Lyrics Teach about Spiders and Insects

In our version, Miss Muffet learns about spiders and insects so that she will not fear them. The following illustrates five things she discovers in her studies. The lyrics say:

1. Firstly, insects and spiders have different body parts.

“You’re not a bug,”
She said with a shrug,
“Compare the two bodies and see.”
“On spiders like you
The parts number two,
but all of the insects have three.” 

2. Secondly is the number of legs on insects and spiders.

The spider said “Grand. But please understand, Here’s the best way to separate.” 
“When it comes to feet, We have them all beat.
Bugs have only six; spiders: eight.”

3. Thirdly is the number of eyes insects and spiders have.

“And look at my eyes;
Is that a surprise?
I hope you will think it first-rate.”“If you think I’ve two,
Then I have tricked you.
Look closely and you will see eight.”

4. Spiders and some Insects spin webs.

“And the web that you spin,
Strong, sticky, and thin,
Is useful to catch little flies.”

5. Lastly, only a few spiders and insects are poisonous.

Many books have told
About spiders, so bold,
Who carry a poisonous bite.
But most will not harm
Your leg or your arm
And usually come out at night.

A Teacher’s Guide too.

After sharing these books with teachers and home-school parents, we discovered a need for a teacher’s guide and additional activities to help teach about insects and spiders. Subsequently, we created the teacher guide that includes sections for spiritual, social, and academic growth.

Little Pot’s method to grow the fruit of the Spirit

Little Pot is a vessel that grows fruit for the potter. It believes that children should be holistic thinkers. Therefore, spiritual, social, and academic growth sections are included in the Little Miss Muffet teacher’s guide. These three areas lead to growing the fruit of the Spirit. You see, Little Pot follows a fruit-bearing cycle as its strawberries grow. That process mirrors how we can grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

This process is better explained in the 7 steps to become a fruit-bearing vessel. Sign up below to receive the steps. Additionally, you’ll receive a fruitful Friday email each week with more creative teaching resources.

More Nursery Rhyme Lyrics That Teach

This creative teaching resource uses Little Miss Muffet to teach children about insects and spiders. It is a part of The Mother Goose Meets Mother Nature book series. The series includes other nursery rhyme books teaching different scientific and mathematical concepts.