Snake Activities for Kids
Sure they slither and they're slimy, but how much do you really know about snakes?
The snake activities for kids on the following pages offer a number of fun ways to learn more about these fascinating creatures. You'll also get great craft ideas so that you can make snakes to impress your family and friends.
Snake Locomotion
If snakes don't have legs, how do they move? Watch and learn about snake locomotion in this educational snake activity.
Snow Snakes
Tired of the same old snow men? This winter, try making snow snakes -- snow sculptures that are easy, fun, and interesting.
Spinning Snake
Learn how to make a snake ornament that moves as if by magic. Use items you'll find around the house.
Find more fun activities and craft ideas on the following pages:
Snake Locomotion
How do snakes move without legs? Learn about snake locomotion in this activity.
Snakes are highly evolved reptiles. They move quickly without legs, which gives them some advantage over reptiles that push themselves along with legs while dragging their bellies on the ground. But how is it possible to move without legs?
What You'll Need:
Sandbox or large tray filled with sand
Rake
First, get permission to use a snake. You may have a friend who keeps a snake, or you might be able to catch a small garter snake in your backyard. If you aren't experienced in handling snakes, get an adult to help you.
 Learn how snakes move by studying their tracks. |
Rake a sand box (or a sand tray) level. Use the back of a rake to make the surface smooth. Set the snake at one end of the sand and let it crawl to the other end.
Put the snake safely back in its cage, then examine the tracks it left. You'll notice curved indentations in the sand where the snake's body pressed down.
The snake uses the curves and coils of its body to press against the ground, moving it forward. Its belly scales, large and rough, give it gripping power like tire treads.
Smooth the sand again and see if you can make the snake move at a different speed. See how the tracks change. Are they further apart? Sometimes snakes move in nearly straight lines. They can use muscle ripples and their belly scales to creep along slowly.
Now that you've watched snakes in action, find out how to make a snow snake on the next page.
Find more fun activities and craft ideas on the following pages:
Snow Snakes
On this page, you will learn how to create wondrous snow snakes that won't
hibernate!
What You'll Need:
Snowy fieldWarm clothes and gloves
Bits of food
Everyone's heard of a snowman. But making a slithering snow snake is ssssserious fun.
 Snow snakes are a great alternative to snow men. |
Instead of making a snowman of 3 large balls, try a snow snake made of as many basketball-size snow sections as you can make. Once you've lined your snow snake balls up, carve out a pointed head and rattling tail at either end of the snake.
Decorate your snake with bits of food, such as raisins. These will be good treats for hungry birds and squirrels.
Had enough of the cold? For some indoor fun, got to the next page to find out how to make a spinning snake.
Find more fun activities and craft ideas on the following pages:
Spinning Snake
You'll have a great time making and watching the spinning snake, the last snake activity in this section.
What You'll Need:
Markers
Scissors
Thread
 Watch the snake spin. |
Use scissors to cut along the spiral line from the outside edge to the center oval. Draw eyes to make the center oval of the plate into a snake's head.
Poke a small hole into the center of the head. Pull a piece of thread through the hole from the top, and tie a big knot in it so the thread will not pull through.
Color the snake's body with stripes. Hang the snake by the thread above a heat source, such as a radiator or heating vent. Watch to see what your snake does.
What Happened? Heat from the heat source caused air to rise up toward your snake. As the air molecules bumped into your spiral-shaped snake, they caused it to spin around.
Find more fun activities and craft ideas on the following pages:
ABOUT THE CRAFT DESIGNERS
Snake Locomotion by Maria Birmingham, Karen E. Bledsoe and Kelly Milner Halls
