Awesome Snake Science! 40 Activities for Learning About Snakes

From cobras and copperheads to pythons and boas, all types of snakes are covered in this book of 40 science experiments, art projects, and games that help budding herpetologists gain a greater appreciation for these slithering reptiles. Activities include making foldable fangs to learn how snakes' teeth and jaws work together; simulating cytotoxic snake venom while making a tasty snack using an everyday enzyme found in pineapple; and mimicking the sound a rattlesnake makes by using a rubber band, a paper clip, and an envelope. Engaging, simple, and safe experiments teach kids about the biology of snakes, such as how they use their tongues and nostrils to detect smells, how they are cold-blooded and sensitive to subtle changes in temperature, and how they can detect the slightest vibrations or tremors. Kids do not need a snake for any of the activities and will delight in all the strange snake facts and gross-out projects such as Snake Stinkwhere they create their own signature stink and test how well it repels potential predators.

Cindy Blobaum is the author of Geology Rocks and Insectigations and a contributor to Highlights, Hopscotch for Girls, and Plays magazines. She has designed science-based programs and teacher workshops for nature organizations throughout the United States. She lives in Des Moines, Iowa.