Based on Amazing Snakes!
by Sarah L. Thomson
Grades: K-2

About the book
Learning about the science of snakes has never been so thrilling! Did you know that if your mouth was like a snake’s mouth you could eat a watermelon whole? This book is filled with fascinating facts about snakes that kids will enjoy. The vivid photography, provided by the Wildlife Conservation Society, brings many species of snakes to life and may leave a few readers with a chill!

Related Activities
To extend students’ enjoyment of the book, try these:

Alphabet Snake: Create an alphabet snake to help students practice their alphabet. For this activity you will need paper towel or toilet tissue tubes, yarn, and markers. Cut each tube into equal ringslarge enough to write one alphabet letter on it. Each student will need 26 tube rings plus one largertube for the snake head. Have students write one letter on each ring. Next, give them yarn to string all their rings together (if you have helpers you can punch four holes in each ring on the ends anduse the yarn to tie each ring to one another). Leave enough yarn to tie onto the last ring and thesnake head. Remind them to look at the alphabet chart to get their alphabet rings in the right order. Once they are all strung together they can decorate the larger ring for the snake head and tie it withyarn to the snake body.

Acrostic Poems: Have some fun with poetry by creating an acrostic snake poem with students. Together as a class brainstorm some facts or key words that students know about snakes and recordthem on the board. Next, have students write the word SNAKE vertically and then try to find a wordor fact that starts with each letter in snake. Once students see how an acrostic poem works have them create one using their first name.

Habitat Diorama: Discuss with students the different habitats that snakes may live in. Have each student select a species of snakes and research their habitat. Next, have students create a shoeboxdiorama showing the habitat their species of snake lives in. Show off their creations in the classroomor library.

The Science of Snakes: Learn more about how and where snakes live by visiting a local zoo or reptile exhibit. When you return to school discuss what learning happened and allow time for yourstudents to make thank you cards for the zoo showing off their best snake drawings.

Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Create a fun craft that sounds a lot like a rattle snake. Collect cylinder containers like the ones used for chips or powered drink mixes. Help students pour a little riceinto each container and tape the lid firmly shut. Next, the students can cover the outside withconstruction paper and decorate their shakers with their best snake designs. Now turn on some music and let the Shake, Rattle, and Roll begin!