An 8 Legged Interview

What is the project about

Using spiders as a gateway to science, we developed “An 8-Legged Interview,” an educational project where primary school children co-created a book as authors and illustrators. By combining science, storytelling, and inclusion, the project engaged students over two years, fostering curiosity and strengthening awareness of biodiversity and its role in sustainability—demonstrating a scalable approach to climate-conscious science education.

Who started the project

Aracnofilia – Italian Society of Arachnology (Gabriele Greco), Primary school C. Collodi (Chiara Wolf), Azobè ODV (Luca Sguanci)

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How it began

In this project, I used spiders as a gateway to transform how children relate to biodiversity and sustainability. It began with an interactive session in which primary school pupils encountered live spiders, expressing curiosity and fear through drawings and questions that became the foundation of a story they co-developed (Scuola Susà).

The artistic work

In parallel, a second group of students from more challenging backgrounds illustrated the story under the guidance of an artist (Luca Sguanci, Associazione Azobè). Over two years, the two groups collaborated through exchanges and co-creation, producing a children’s book in which two kids interview a spider to explore arthropods and their ecological role. Scientific concepts were actively learned through storytelling, illustration, and the use of digital tools.

In summary

This process enabled participants to overcome fear and develop a positive emotional connection with a misunderstood group of animals. More importantly, it fostered a deep understanding of biodiversity and the role of even small organisms in maintaining ecosystem balance. The students became ambassadors of biodiversity: they shared the book within their school community, sparking discussion and awareness among peers.

By reshaping perceptions of nature, the project contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation at a cultural level. It promotes early awareness of biodiversity loss, encourages pro-environmental attitudes, and empowers young generations to act. Crucially, this approach is scalable: if it can transform perceptions of spiders, it can be applied to any organism or ecosystem, offering a replicable model for climate-conscious education.