Project: Curly-Cue Snakes

   Several years ago I did a school visit and went into a kindergarten class.  Suspended from the ceiling were all sorts of paper snakes, each with a different decoration.  I discovered that they were the result of a family homework assignment.  The pattern for the snake had been sent home with each child.  Then each member of the child’s family had been asked to contribute to the decoration of the snake.  I was amazed at the variety of ways that the snakes had been decorated.  The photo above is from a visit to another school where the children created their wonderful, multi-colored snakes in class.
   Here’s how you can make your own curly-cue snake.
You can download the pattern for the snake here.
   1.  Decorate the body of the snake.  You can make it realistic or imaginary.
   2.  Cut out the snake on the black lines.
   3.  Punch a hole at the dot in the middle.  Tie a thread or string at the hole.
   4.  Hang up your snake from the ceiling or a doorway and watch it twirl.
This project is good for children in the primary grades.
   You can learn about snakes in my books Snake, African Animals, Australian Animals, South American Animals and Watching Desert Wildlife.