Pupil Troy Durado won a competition that allowed the class to attend the launch of the Questacon-Australian Museum's spiders display.

"I don't have a favourite spider. I like them all because they're cool and have eight legs," Troy said. "Why can't humans have eight legs?"

The competition, which required schoolchildren to enter their best peacock spider creation in the form of a drawing, story or poem, gave Troy and his classmates the chance to interact with the exhibition a day before the official opening.

Troy's classmates were equally impressed with the exhibition, in particular the 3D interactive spider model and the live spiders.

"I'm learning a lot," Grace Hinds said. "But it's really fun as well."

Among the newly recruited exhibition staff was citizen scientist and spider enthusiast Stuart Harris. His discovery of the maratus harrisi, the eighth species of peacock spider, launched him into the scientific arena.

"We all know there's a morbid fascination with spiders," Mr Harris said. "More people are scared of them than not.

"Educating truth from a young age only serves to reduce fear and allow kids to get involved with nature."

The spider exhibition, which opens on November 24, is suitable for all ages. It allows visitors to explore all aspects of a spider's life and get close with a virtual wolf spider.

Questacon director Graham Durant said he hoped the exhibition inspired curiosity in the natural world.

"And a sense of wonder about the lives of spiders," Professor Durant said.