S is for Snake and T is for Turtle!

S is for Snake and T is for Turtle!

Pre-program Activity

Ask tots to make a snake from dough. Can you shape it into an “S”?

Story

Small Green Snake by Libba Moore Gray
Box Turtle at Long Pond by Lindsay Barrett George

Song/Activity

Ask children to move like a snake; then like a turtle.
Ask children and adults to make snakes with their fingers and follow the movements to:

Little Snake
(Sung to: “Twinkle, twinkle, Little Star”)
Slowly, slowly
Turn around.
Look behind you
On the ground.
You will see
A snake wiggle.
Careful, now,
He’ll make you giggle!
Slowly, slowly
Turn around.
There’s a snake
Right on the ground.

Show & Tell

Using a live snake and live turtle, discuss reptile features. Should you pick up a wild turtle or snake? (No.) Can you keep a turtle or snake that you find in a park? (Check local laws for restrictions, most wild animals are protected and cannot become pets.)

Parent/Child Activity

Explore park area for places snakes or turtles would sun themselves or lay eggs. Before the program, place several snake eggs (plastic eggs) around the park. Inside the eggs place gummy worms (baby snakes). Make sure the children know how many eggs they can find, so that everyone gets some.

Craft: Noodle snake

Materials: Colored tube pasta, pipe cleaners, googley eyes, yarn for tongues, glue.
Ask tot to string the noodles onto the pipe cleaners. Adult can glue on googley eyes and yarn tongue if they like.

Other craft options

Make snake tracks by dipping pieces of yarn in poster paint.
Then drag the yarn on paper

Necktie Snakes
Materials

  • old neckties
  • newspaper or plastic grocery bags
  • eyes
  • felt for tongues
  • several staplers
  • glue

Stuff tie with newspaper or grocery bags. When full, staple it shut. Glue on eyes and tongue.

Snack

Gummy worms (snakes) from the snake egg hunt and reptile eggs (yogurt covered raisins).

Playdough Worms (Snake) Recipe

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • Red food coloring
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2 cup salt

Cook mixture over medium heat until mixture pulls away from sides of pan and becomes like playdough. Knead until cool. Keeps 3 months or more.

Activities provided by:

Polk County Conservation Board
Ginny Malcomson
Nature Tots is funded by Polk County Conservation Board, West Des Moines Park and Recreation, and the Des Moines Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.

Age:
_ 0-1
_ 1-2
_ 2-3
✓ 3-4
_ 4-5
_ 5-6

Category: Adult-Child

Time:
1 hour

Season:
any

Iowa Early Learning Standards:
8.2, 8.3, 9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 10.3, 11.1, 11.2, 12.1, 13.2, 14.3

Related Kindernature Resources: Other Resources: