Teacher Tips
Before you visit…
Ask your students what they know about snakes. Try to dispel the myth that all snakes
are dangerous. Many children know about boa constrictors, cobras, and anacondas, but
try to focus the discussion on snakes of the United States. To see what species of snakes
can be found in the mid-Atlantic region, go to www.enature.com, click on the Reptile
category under Field Guides, select “Snakes,” and then select “Mid-Atlantic” from the
region dropdown menu. Another great online resource is the Virginia Snake
Identification Guide at http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/virginia_snake_identification.htm.
There are two pre-program activities to choose from. One is for first and second grade
students and the second activity is for third-fifth grade. Please choose one of the
activities to acquaint your students with snakes. Depending on the season of your field
trip and your personal schedule, your activities may vary.
During your visit…
Students will discuss the characteristics of a snake, learn about the differences between
venomous and non-venomous snakes of Virginia, and identify common native snakes.
Students can feel shed snake skin as well as pet Matilda, our black rat snake. We will
practice appropriate snake behavior on our walk around the Arboretum to look for
snakes.
After you visit…
Be sure to engage your students in the post-program activity that we have provided, by
doing so you will increase your students’ retention of knowledge and experience at
Blandy Experimental Farm.
Printed Resources about the Snakes of Virginia
Conant, Roger, Robert C. Stebbins and Joseph T. Collins. 1992. Peterson First Guide to
Reptiles and Amphibians. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Martof, B.S., W.M. Palmer, J.R. Bailey, and J.R. Harrison III. 1980. Amphibians &
Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
Pinder, M.J. and J.C. Mitchell. 2002. A Guide to the Snakes of Virginia. Wildlife
Diversity Special Publication Number 2.1, Virginia Department of Game & Inland
Fisheries. Richmond, VA.
SOL: Math 1.1, 1.5, 1.6, 1.12, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.12
Art 1.3, 1.8, 1.10, 2.4
English 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10
Life Science: 1.1, 1.5, 1.7, 2.1, 2.7
SOL: Science 3.1, 4.1,
V.S. 2b
Math 3.4
Art 1.3, 2.4, 3.4
Copyright 2006
PreK-12 Programs at Blandy Experimental Farm
and The State Arboretum of Virginia
www.virginia.edu/blandy
Pre-program activity 3rd, 4th, and 5th
1. One snake can have 100-600 ribs. A human has 24 ribs.
Estimate or use division to find out how many humans would
it take to equal one 600 ribbed snake.____________
2. Notice the difference in the snakes eyes. Which one do you
think is poisonous? Why?
3. The green-shaded portion of the state represents where you
can hunt for green snakes. Which
province is highlighted?
4. The mole king snake's habitat is found in forests, agricultural
areas and old fields east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in
which two provinces will the snake be found?
5. Below are two snake bite patterns. One pattern is from a
poisonous snake and the other is the
bite pattern of a non-poisonous snake.
Label which one is which and explain.
Copyright 2008
PreK-12 Programs at Blandy Experimental Farm and
The State Arboretum of Virginia
www.virginia.edu/blandy
Match the picture with the descriptions found at the bottom of the page.
Blotches
Spots
Hourglass bands
Stripes
Straight bands
Zigzag bands
Hint: Bands go around the snake like a belt.
Copyright 2008
PreK-12 Programs at Blandy Experimental Farm and
The State Arboretum of Virginia
www.virginia.edu/blandy
Post-Program Activity 3rd -5th grade
1. Look at the picture below; name three reasons why a snake
would be found in this habitat.
2. Why wouldn’t you find a snake in this habitat during the
winter?
3. Recall the black-rat snake you met at Blandy, estimate how
long the snake was.
4.
What is one anatomical structure that snakes and humans
have in common?
Copyright 2008
PreK-12 Programs at Blandy Experimental Farm and
The State Arboretum of Virginia
www.virginia.edu/blandy