Activity

Snail habitat

Summary
Students collect materials needed by snails to survive and set up a snail habitat
Science content
Biology: Features, Adaptations of Living Things (K, 1, 3, 7)
Biology: Life Cycles (2)
Biology: Food Webs, Ecosystems, Biomes (3, 4)
Lessons activity is in
Materials

Aquarium or other glass tank
Area of school grounds to collect sand, soil, leaves, grass, twigs
Snails - most easily found in the fall and spring, when it is not too hot or too cold.

Procedure

Students go outside to collect materials for the snail habitat:
sand for the bottom of the habitat (to hold water)
soil (for hiding in)
leaves and grass (for hiding in and eating)
sticks (for climbing on)

Back in the classroom, each student adds their item to the terrarium while saying what the snail needs their item for.
Start by adding sand to the tank, and add water to it to make it moist. Then add soil, moistening it if necessary. Then add leaves, grass and twigs.

Grades taught
Gr 1
Gr 2