Snaky Plate

Materials

1. Thin, dinner-size paper plates, one per child
2. Scissors
3. Hole punch
4. Yarn cut in 8" (20 cm) lengths
5. Green or brown tempera paint
6. Small brushes
7. Googly eyes
8. Red construction paper
9. Glue

Instructions

What to do

1. Cut the plate beginning on one side and moving in a spiral course until you reach the center, leaving a strip, or snake, roughly 1" (3 cm) wide.
2. Punch a hole in the center of each plate and tie a piece of yarn to the hole, forming a handle.
3. Invite the children to paint their snake.
4. Help the children cut tongue shapes from the red paper. When the paint is dry, help the children glue the eyes and tongue to the head of their snake.
5. Hang the snakes to dry.

More to do
Field trip: Visit a nearby zoo or nature center to observe the snakes and learn how to hold them.
Movement: Play music and invite the children to hiss and slither along the ground.
More art: Make a snake puzzle by cutting a long, wide paper snake into pieces with irregular
edges; have the children paint or color the pieces, then fit them together. Make a snake puppet
from old socks and fabric scraps.
Science: Invite a reptile handler to visit the school and give a demonstration on snakes.