Create a Coiling Snake

Creepy crawly creatures are universally fascinating to  young children, and kids also possess an innate curiosity that makes them eager to check out new things. Snakes are one of those things that fascinates children as they literally creep and slither through the grass.

In this activity your child will make a coiling snake out of simple household materials, and also find out why they coil.  Why are some snakes bright in color and pattern and others aren't?  In the end, he will have a coiling snake to hang up and enjoy.

• Bright markers or crayons 
• Paper plate
• Yarn or string
• Jingle bell – optional
• Hole punch
• Glue

1. Have your child color the entire paper plate, both sides, in bright colors and patterns.  He can be as creative as he wants to be.
2. Next, depending on your child's cutting skill, either he or an adult can start cutting in a circular pattern from the outside of the plate, gradually spiraling around the plate to end in the center.  When you are done you should have a spiraled plate similar to a long apple peel.
3. Take another piece of paper plate and cut a small forked tongue. Glue this on to the smaller 'tighter' end of the snake which is the end that was in the middle of the plate.  Punch a hole in the head of the snake and have your child draw eyes onto the snake's head.
4. Punch a hole in the tail end and use some string to tie a jingle bell onto the end as a rattle. 
5. Tie string or yarn through the hole in the head to hang your snake up.

Did You Know?
Snakes coil up for two reasons.  The first is to conserve body heat.  They are cold blooded which means they get their heat from the sun and the heat stored in the rocks and earth around them.  The second reason they coil is to strike at their prey.  Coiling up gives them a burst of pent up energy.

Snakes come in bright patterns and colors which let other animals know that they may be poisonous.  This is not always the case.  Some snakes are just trying to blend with their habitat which happens to be bright and colorful.  Brownish, black, grey and other colored snakes want to blend with their surroundings so that they can hunt better because their habitat is in the rocks or on tree bark or in the dirt.  Not every snake is poisonous but all snakes are hunters.  Most snakes are quite docile and just want a sunny spot to digest and be left alone.