Staple two inexpensive paper plates together, and cut a hole in the center of one of the plates to make a claw for each child in a group. Tell the children that the male fiddler crab has one larger claw and one smaller one. Line the children up near a starting point for a race. Each child should slip one hand into a "claw." The children can become crabs by lying on their backs and raising their bodies with their arms and legs under them. Have the children race to a finish line, wearing the awkward large claw all the way.
Children can learn and discover about fiddler crabs from online sources, encyclopedias and non-fiction books. Have the them write a report and draw or color a picture of a fiddler crab. Some pictures are available online for free downloading. Or, children can draw their own version of the crab from a source they are using for reference. Display the picture reports in the classroom or in a hallway area. Allow children the option of writing a poem or short story about fiddler crabs rather than just a report, if desired.
Purchase or borrow a fiddler crab for a classroom pet, even if just for a short time. Widllife experts suggest putting three or four female crabs in an aquarium or cage with one male. Cover the bottom of the container with sand or gravel. Provide at least one low-sided container for water and one for food. Hermit crab food works well for fiddlers. Make a good place for the crabs to burrow, like a muddy place in corners of the tank or cage. The children will learn about these creatures by being able to watch them in the classroom.
This crab has eight legs and two arms with pincher claws. His eyes stick out near the bottom of his head and his two feelers come from the top of the head. Children can make a fiddler crab from an upside-down egg carton cup, paper cup or clay pot. The procedure is the same for any of the craft items. Have the kids paint their crab a light or darker brown. They should glue two craft google-eyes at the bottom front of the crab. Have them glue eight half-pieces of chenille stems to the bottom edge of the crab for legs, two half pieces toward the front for arms and two half pieces to the top for feelers. Have them glue a small foam pincher to one of the arms and a larger foam pincher to the other.