Snail Crafts and Activities
for Children

Colorful Snail Activity Sheet

What you will need: Printer paper, crayons, glue, and decorative items.

What to do:

1. Print out the pattern (Large file or small file) and make copies.

2. Color the snail picture and then glue on decorative items such as buttons, sequins, stickers, and yarn.

3D Snail Picture - This craft is a little difficult for young children, but the snail would look great on a bulletin board display.

What you will need: Printer paper, scissors, glue, and crayons.

What to do:

1. Print out the picture of the snail (Large file or small file) and the snail pattern (Large file or small file). Cut out the snail shell so that it looks like a snake.

2. Color the snail pictures.

3. Place a line of glue all the way around the circle in the picture. Place the glue right on the line. Gather the snail shell into a circle so it is laying flat. Carefully press the outside edge of the outer part of the shell along the line of glue as shown in the picture at the right. The inside part of the pattern will stick up at an angle because the circle on the paper is smaller than the shell pattern. Press the outer edge of the snail shell pattern all the way around the circle. Let the glue dry.

4. When the glue has dried place a line of glue around the inner edge of the shell pattern that you have already glued down. Carefully lay the next section of shell over the glue so that the outside edge of the pattern is in the glue as shown at the left. Let that layer dry.

5. Continue adding glue to the inner edge of the pattern and placing the outer edge of the pattern on the glue until you reach the center of the shell.

Paper Bowl Snail Picture

What you will need: 10 oz. 5 3/4" paper bowls, printer paper, paint, markers, or crayons, and glue.

What to do:

1. Print out the snail pattern and color the picture. (Large file or small file)

2. Color or paint the underside of a paper bowl and glue it to the snail picture to make the snail's shell.

Snail Trail Activity Sheet - Snails leave a sticky, slimy trail everywhere they go. Children practice their gluing skills by placing glue on the snail's trail. This activity sheet is available to members only on the Ready-for-School Page.

Your children will enjoy singing this song as they work on their snail trails.

Shim, Shim, Shimmy
Written by Nancy Foss
Sing to the tune of "London Bridges".

Make a snail trail
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Make a snail trail
Follow me
Shim, Shim, Shimmy

"Snail Reads Her Mail" Printable Itty Bitty Book - Reading -ail words

Snail goes to get her mail. Without fail, she leaves a trail.
Snail slides along the rail. Oh no, a nail! Snail walks over the nail.
It starts to hail. Snail must hurry.
Snail gets her mail and opens it. Oh no, it's in brialle!
Can you help snail read her mail?

Children use a braille code to figure out a message that says, "God Loves You". Also included in the book are other -ail words and some fun facts about snails.

This book is available to members only. Go to the Printable Books Page for a pattern and directions.

Web Sites About Snails

1. Learn all about snails at "All About Snails" Web site.

Books About Snails

"Twelve Snails to One Lizard, A Tale of Mischief and Measurement" by Susan Hightower.

Milo the Beaver has a problem; he needs to cut a log 36 inches long to repair his dam. Bubba Bullfrog tells him an inch is about the length of a snail, but getting 36 snails to line up in a row proves to be a problem. Lizards are about one foot long, but getting lizards to cooperate proves to be even harder. What about a 36-inch snake? The animals in this story try to solve their problem by using alternative means of measurement. Children learn about inches, feet, and yards.