Last week I was grocery and kid birthday present shopping and I came across some plastic fake snakes in toy section of Wal-mart. I just had to have them. For me… not the birthday boy.
I told my students that while they were at lunch I discovered some rocks on our carpet area that I was a little curious about. I was pretty sure something was sleeping under them but I was too scared to check. I asked them to quietly come in and gather around the rug. They were so intrigued! They shushed each other and made predictions. Frogs was the most predicted because a green head was sticking out of one of the rocks!
I told them I would need a very brave first grader to take my trusty pinchers and remove one rock.
They gasped, screamed, and giggled!
Once they were all revealed, I asked for snake handlers to pick up one snake at a time and show us it’s belly!
Each snake had a word taped to its belly.
We clapped out the syllables together as a class
Then we agreed on the number of syllables in each word.
We recorded them on our class chart.
We also did another whole group activity using the snakes and some quick paper eggs I made up. Snake Synonyms!
We found this sweet mom and dad watching over their eggs.
Partners carefully chose an egg from the nest of the sleeping snakes.
They were shushing each other and acting jumpy. So so cute!!
Students came up with their synonym and wrote it out then glued it to a class chart.
Both of these whole group activities as well as 14 other snake related activities for math and literacy are in my new unit. (3 total whole group actitivites and 11 math and literacy centers)
My new unit is on sale for the first 24 hours! I hope it brings you some inspiration at a time when it’s hard to hang on!
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Amanda says
April 21, 2013 at 12:55 pmI almost didn't read your post because I am deathly afraid of snakes! I am so glad I did though. Those activities are darling and look like so much fun for the students. I am not sure if I am brave enough even for the rubber snakes though.
Mrs. Pauley’s Kindergarten
Mrs. Griffith says
April 21, 2013 at 2:06 pmOne thing I lack is being able to turn something like rubber snakes into a great engaging activity. Thank goodness I read your post this morning to inspire me. You are awesome at coming up with creative ideas!! All your center activities look great too!
Lindsay
For the Love of First Grade
Brandee Green says
April 21, 2013 at 2:19 pmI love to see teachers having fun with their students! I'm your newest follower. 🙂
Creating Lifelong Learners
Second-grade-alicious says
April 21, 2013 at 2:20 pmMy boys would go nuts for this activity and I think the girls would love it too!!
Doodle Bugs says
April 21, 2013 at 2:37 pmprecious!!!!!!!!!!!! {as always!}
Chrissy says
April 21, 2013 at 3:05 pmOh my gosh, your kiddos must have been so excited to find the snakes! So much fun!!
Chrissy
First Grade Found Me
Mrs. Graham says
April 21, 2013 at 4:08 pmI LOVE these activities! I am adding them to my TPT shopping cart today. Thanks for continuing to create so many wonderful work centers for first graders.
[email protected]
CASEY says
April 21, 2013 at 6:15 pmFun idea!! Very creative!
Unrelated, but i love your rug. Can you tell me where it's from? Thanks!
Allyson says
April 21, 2013 at 6:36 pmYes – I too would love to know where you got your rug from! I LOVE it 🙂
Meagan says
April 21, 2013 at 7:01 pmCute unit! It looks really engaging for the kids. Love the whole group activities. 🙂
Mikaela says
April 21, 2013 at 7:54 pmYou are SO creative! I wish I could go back to first grade and be in your class. This is another adorable unit. So fun!
Rachel Elsener says
April 22, 2013 at 12:23 amI almost didn't read this post, too! I'm the most scared of snakes! This is a great idea. I'm not sure if I would be bold enough to do this with my kids.
loularkin says
April 22, 2013 at 3:56 amI love everything that you make, usually! This unit is too close to home. I live in Arizona and I have had too many close encounters with rattlesnakes. One was once on my doorstep! This unit does look great though!
Jennifer
Traci - Dragonflies in First says
April 23, 2013 at 3:39 amOK… well that's just ADORABLE FUN!!!
Kara says
April 23, 2013 at 3:56 pmYou are so creative! Love it!!
Christa Swaney says
April 24, 2013 at 1:50 amThis is so flipping adorable!! My kids would love this! Your grade level members must love you!! I am thinking of going to first and this makes me excited!!!
Christa
sweetlifeofsecondgrade
Kim Russell says
May 1, 2013 at 12:37 amThis is just too adorable, I can't wait to do this. thank you.
Miss Danielle says
May 19, 2013 at 8:06 amI found this particular blog post after locating your "Snake Safari Centres" on TpT. I absolutely LOVE it when a teacher showcases their pack in their own classroom. I was already thinking of purchasing it and adapting it for my preschoolers BUT after seeing your pack in action I just HAD to have it. Thanks for all of your effort as it makes the job, of selecting adaptable resources, so much easier when I actually see the packs in action. You are amazingly creative.
Jammie Fewell says
May 22, 2013 at 5:57 pmLoved this activity!!! I had so much fun reading and thinking about your students' reactions as they pulled off the rocks. You are so creative!! Thanks for sharing!
Jammie Fewell