Snails

AREA SETUP

(Open thematic poster-Snails) Print, laminate, and display all kinds of posters.

Educa-theme-Snails
(Open educa-theme-Snails) Print and laminate the items that represent the theme. Use them to present your theme to your group (and parents) while decorating a corner of your daycare.

Educa-decorate-Snails
(Open educa-decorate-Snails) Print, laminate, and cut out the various items. Use them to decorate your daycare and set the mood for the theme.

Garland-Snails
(Open models-Snails) Print and let children decorate the garland. Cut it out and hang it within your daycare or near your daycare entrance.

SPECIAL TOOL

This special tool was created in response to a special request received. (Open group identification-Snails) Print and laminate the various cards and posters and use them to identify children's spots and belongings.

CIRCLE TIME

Deposit a bowl filled with seashells and balls of modeling dough on a table before children arrive in the morning. Observe their reaction when they notice the bowl. Some may automatically begin manipulating the contents of the bowl. You may also greet children with your hands covered in goop. Children will love shaking your hand and manipulating this substance that is sticky, just like snails.

Questions for circle time:

• Have you ever seen a real snail?
• Have you ever touched a snail?
• Have you ever eaten escargots? Did you know that many adults enjoy eating escargots?
• How can we use snails?

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with your group. Use them to decorate your daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game-Snails) Print, laminate, and store the pictures in a Ziploc bag or in your thematic bin.

ACTIVITY SHEETS

(Open activity sheets-Snails) Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions.

Fine motor skills activity sheets-Snails
(Open fine motor skills activity sheets-Snails) Print and follow instructions.

Educa-nuudles-Snails

(Open educa-nuudles-Snails) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet and use Magic Nuudles to give it a three-dimensional look. Variation: You don't have Magic Nuudles? Have children fill the spaces designed for Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers. To order Magic Nuudles.

WRITING ACTIVITIES

(Open writing activities-S like snail) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Stationery-Snails
(Open stationery-Snails) Print. You may use the stationery to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or to identify your thematic bins.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Word flashcards
Use the cards to spark a conversation with your group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Snails) (Open giant word flashcards-Snails) Print.

home, spiral, slow, leaf, snail, slide, shell, antennae, sticky, aquarium, ocean, lake

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

My snail path
(Open my snail path) Print, laminate, and secure the illustrations on the floor to create a path which leads to areas frequently visited by children such as the bathroom or cloakroom. If you prefer, the illustrations may also be used to delimit your various workshops.

This is my spot-Snails
(Open Game-This is my spot-Snails) Print two copies. Laminate and cut out the cards. Glue one copy of each card on the table using adhesive paper. Drop the other copies in a bag. Children take turns picking a card to determine their spot at the table for the day. You may also use the cards to determine naptime spots or for your task train.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Lacing-Snails
(Open lacing-Snails) Print, laminate, and punch holes around the contour of each shape. Encourage children to thread string or ribbon through the holes.

Modeling dough snails
You will need a small seashell for each child (you can find some in big-box stores) and modeling dough. Ask children to form a snail and insert it in their shell. Variation: Show children how they can make modeling dough "snakes" and then wrap them in circles to form spirals and represent snails.

Snail race
Have children stand on a line at one end of your daycare and deposit an item at the other end of the room for each child. Tell them they must go get their item, but they must move like a snail, and therefore slide along the floor.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Snail hunt
Provide magnifying glasses and plastic containers and encourage children to hunt for snails in your yard or at the playground. You can also look for slugs, caterpillars, and worms! They are closely related to snails after all! Observe children's findings closely.

Educa-symmetry-Snails
(Open educa-symmetry-Snails) Print. Children must color the picture on the bottom to make it look exactly like the picture at the top of the page.

Educ-trace-Snails
(Open educ-trace-Snails) Print for each child. Children must trace the lines using a crayon of the corresponding color and then color the object at the end of each line using the same color.

Educ-pairs-Snails
(Open educ-pairs-Snails) Print. Children must draw a line to connect matching items or color them using the same color. For durable, eco-friendly use, laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Educ-same and different-Snails
(Open educ-same and different-Snails) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must circle the item that is different in each row.

EARLY SCIENCE/MANIPULATION/EXPLORATION

Sticky bin
Fill a large container with cooked spaghetti (or macaroni). Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to make the pasta even slipperier. Encourage children to roll the spaghetti to form tiny snails.

Tracks in the sand
Fill a large bin or cookie sheet with packed wet sand. Using a stick (branch, drinking straw, Popsicle stick, etc.), ask children to draw tracks in the sand, just like the ones left behind by snails.

Sand dough

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of sand
  
• 1 cup of flour
  
• 1 cup of salt
  
• 3 tablespoons of oil
  
• 3 teaspoons of cream of tartar
  
• ½ cup of water

Steps:

1. In a pot, mix all dry ingredients.
   
2. Add wet ingredients.
   
3. Cook the mixture over medium-low heat until it has a uniformly granular texture (much like unmelted sugar).
   
4. The use of an old pot is recommended since the sand may scratch the surface of the pot somewhat.
   
5. Use the dough as you would use regular modeling dough to give children the opportunity to explore new textures.

Prints in the sand
Use the sand dough to make prints of children's hands and feet. Let the prints dry completely before painting them.

Moon Sand

(Open creative recipe-Moon Sand) This moon sand is great for building sand castles that are much less fragile than those made with plain sand.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups of sand
• 3 cups of cornstarch
• 1 ½ cup of cold water
• A large container

Steps:

1. Vigorously mix the water and cornstarch together for a few minutes to obtain a relatively smooth mixture.
2. Add the sand (1 cup at a time) to the liquid mixture and mix well using your hands so the sand absorbs the liquid,
3. Once the liquid is completely absorbed, you are ready to play! Use the Moon Sand to make various shapes and structures.
4. Store the Moon Sand in an airtight container. Simply add 3-4 tablespoons of water to the mixture each time you wish to play with it and you will enjoy several hours of fun!

**The texture of this dough is a lot like the store-bought version, but it is much less expensive.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Food item of the week: Garlic
(Open educ-poster-Garlic) Print and laminate the posters and use them to present the food item of the week to your group. The pictures will help children discover different forms of an everyday food item. Display the pictures in your kitchen area or next to the table where children eat.

Sweet escargots you can eat
You will need a slice of bread with the crust cut off for each child, cream cheese, and cinnamon. Ask children to flatten their slice of bread using a rolling pin. Once their slice of bread is completely flat, have them spread cream cheese all over it. Next, they can sprinkle cinnamon over the cream cheese before rolling up their slice of bread to form a log. Slice each child's log several times to create snails. If you prefer, you may use chocolate or strawberry-flavoured cheese spread or any other type of spread you have on hand.

Snail buns
Bake store-bought cinnamon buns (in the refrigerated section at the grocery store). When they are ready, help children notice the shape of the cinnamon buns. Let them unroll the spirals as they eat the buns.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Puppets-Snails
(Open puppets-Snails) Print the puppet models on heavy cardboard. Invite children to cut them out and decorate them with various materials. Attach a Popsicle stick to the back of each model to create a puppet.

Models-Snails
(Open models-Snails) Print the various models and use them for your activities and projects throughout the theme.

My unique spirals
Draw a few spirals on a piece of paper. Encourage children to stick small leaves, crumpled pieces of tissue paper, stickers, etc. on the designs to give them the opportunity to explore spirals.

Paper plate snail
(Open snail body) Print for each child. Invite children to decorate a paper plate using paint and glitter. Help them glue their plate on the snail body. The plate will represent the snail's shell.

Curly snail
To make a curly snail, you will need a 2" x 11" strip of construction paper. Wrap the strip of paper around a pencil, stopping 3 inches before the end. Remove the pencil to see your curly snail appear. Draw a snail face on the piece that wasn't originally rolled up. This will be your snail's head. Don't forget to add antennae!

Stamped snail
(Open empty snail shape) Print for each child. Pour a small quantity of different colors of paint in a paper plate. Invite children to press their index finger in the paint and then on their snail shape, alternating colors. Variation: You may also offer corks. Some children don't appreciate getting their hands dirty.

Spirals galore!
Offer a variety of different drawing materials and encourage children to practice drawing spirals.

COLORING PAGES

(Open coloring pages theme-Snails) Print for each child.

Complete the drawing-Snails
(Open complete the drawing-Snails) Print for each child. Invite children to draw the missing parts to complete the picture.

I am learning to draw-A snail
(Open I am learning to draw-A snail) Print and laminate the model sheet. Let children practice their drawing technique on the model sheet before attempting to draw a snail on their own.

SONGS & RHYMES

(Open songs & rhymes-Snails)

I'm a snail

By: Patricia Morrison

Silly, sticky me
I'm as slow
As slow can be

In my shell
Is where I dwell
I'm a snail
And that's my tale

Have fun

The Educatall team