Most kids love slimy insects like snails, slugs, worms and grubs. They find them endlessly fascinating to observe, poke, capture in jars, sometimes in pockets, and squeal in delight to. Also, look at my page Free Kids Insect Unit Study for more ideas.
If you’ve ever walked outside after a rainy day, you may have spotted slimy little creatures crawling on the ground or across a leaf.
Sometimes it’s a snail carrying its spiral shell, and sometimes it’s a slug, which looks a lot like a snail but without the shell.
First, let’s explore what makes slugs and snails the same and then what makes them different, and of course, why both are fascinating creatures.
After that, we are going to design our own adorable little snails from an egg carton that turns a science lesson into an art lesson.
BOOKS ABOUT MOLLUSKS FOR KIDS
8 Books About Mollusks
Add some of these books to your home library or to your unit study for the day.
The book uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children what mollusks are, how they look, how they move, what they eat, and where they live. The beautifully detailed, realistic paintings of noted wildlife illustrator John Sill introduce readers to a variety of mollusks—from the small garden snail to the giant Pacific octopus. An afterword provides more details about the animals in the book.
The giant squid is one of the most elusive creatures in the world. As large as whales, they hide beyond reach deep within the sea, forcing scientists to piece together their story from those clues they leave behind.An injured whale's ring-shaped scars indicate an encounter with a giant squid. A piece of beak broken off in the whale's belly; a flash of ink dispersed as a blinding defense to allow the squid to escape-- these fragments of proof were all we had . . . until a giant squid was finally filmed in its natural habitat only two years ago.In this beautiful and clever nonfiction picture book about the giant squid, Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann explore, both visually and poetically, this hidden creature's mysterious life.
A young snail's artistic trail inspires a whole class of children to be creative too!
"Brilliant illustrations and a short text invite an unnamed sleeping, pajama-clad child into a garden teeming with wildlife. The boy gradually shrinks until he is so small he experiences things as a snail would. The incredibly detailed drawings and the idea of shrinking to enter another world should capture children's imaginations
Escargot is an adorable French snail who only wants two things: 1) To be your favorite animal, and 2) To eat the delicious salad at the end of this book. Except this delicious salad has a carrot in it. And Escargot hates carrots. But when he finally tries one―with a little help from you!―he realizes that it’s not so bad after all.
Here is the story Grandma tells one evening on her wide veranda steps. It has Michael and Hannah and the disappearing baby in it, a tigerish bird, raindrops like sacks of water, and the hugest apple you ever saw. Oh yes . . . and the Snail House. So gather round, climb up now into Grandma’s lap. Darkness is falling, the air is still, and the story is just about to begin.
A snail's life from the time it is hatched to the time it lays its own eggs.
A young snail dreams of having the biggest house—or shell—in the world. Then one day, his wise father tells him the story of another snail with the same dream. He grew and grew, adding bright colors and beautiful designs, until he found that his house came at a terrible cost. The young snail decides that a small, easy-to-carry shell might be best for a life of adventure and exploration.
Next, look at these facts about slimy insects.
5 SLIMY INSECT FACTS
- Some snails can live on land, while others live in water-there are more than 40,000 species of snails in the world.
- Slugs and snails have thousands of tiny teeth. They don’t chew like people do. Instead, they use a special tongue called a radula, which works like a rough file to scrape or cut up food.
- The biggest land snail, the Giant African Land Snail, can grow as long as a loaf of bread!
- Slugs and snails both have tentacles on their heads. The longer pair has eyes at the tips, while the shorter pair helps them smell and feel.
- Their slime isn’t just gross—it’s useful! It helps them stick to surfaces and even crawl upside down.
Also, look at the similarities and differences between slugs and snails.
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SLUGS AND SNAILS
They have a family connection– Slugs and snails are both gastropods, which is a fancy word that means “stomach-foot.” That’s because they crawl using a big, muscular foot located on the underside of their body.
They both leave slime trails– Both leave behind a trail of slime or mucus. This helps them move smoothly over rough surfaces and keeps their bodies from drying out.
They are moisture lovers– They both need damp places to survive because their skin can dry out easily. That’s why you usually see them after rain or in shady gardens.
They share favorite foods– Slugs and snails both munch on plants, fruits, vegetables, and even decaying leaves. Gardeners often have to watch out for them, because they can nibble on lettuce and strawberries.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SLUGS AND SNAILS
Shell or No Shell- Snails carry a coiled shell on their back. They use it as a home and protection from predators. If danger comes, a snail can pull its body inside the shell. Slugs don’t have a visible shell. Without one, they have to hide under rocks, soil, or leaves to keep safe and stay moist.
Size and Shape- Snails often look bulkier because of their shell. Slugs are slimmer and can squeeze into smaller spaces, like under bark or into tiny garden cracks.
Speed- Neither slugs nor snails are very fast (there’s a reason we say something is moving “at a snail’s pace”). But without a shell to carry, slugs can sometimes move a little quicker.
Protection- Snails have their shells as natural armor. Slugs rely on camouflage and staying hidden. Their soft bodies make them more vulnerable.
MORE SLIMY INSECT CRAFTS & ACTIVITIES
- How Do Mollusks Breathe | Easy Pipe Cleaner Snail Craft
- Slug Printable Craft
- Preschoolers and toddlers will adore this cute Polka Dot Snail Craft Idea for Spring.
- Make Air Dry Clay Sea Slugs – Colorful Art Project for Kids to learn about aquatic slugs
- Get hands-on with some science in the Slimy Slug Races- Why Do Slugs Have Slime?
- Craft a colorful Cereal Box Snail Puppet to play with.
- This Snail Sock Craft is a fun way to use up mismatched socks.
Finally, look at how to make this an egg carton craft of a snail.
COLORFUL EGG CARTON SNAIL
You will need:
- Cardboard egg carton
- Pipe cleaners
- Watercolor paints
- Paint brushes
- Google eyes
- Hot glue or tack glue
First, cut out as much of the “cup” of the egg carton as you can, trim it so the bottom is smooth and even.
Let your child use their imagination to paint their snail natural or fanciful colors with watercolor paints and brushes. You can also use regular craft paints. We just love the wash of watercolor on the cardboard.
Set aside to dry.
Bend a pipe cleaner in half, leaving a loop at one end and twisting it from the loop to about ½” to 1” from the end.
Bend the loop end and hot glue it to the underside of the snail shell.
Now glue googly eyes in place on each of the antennae.
That’s it, you now have the cutest little snail or two to play with as you learn all about them.
