In search of a delightful and straightforward craft activity to engage in with your children? Look no further than the humble paper snail craft for kids.
These fascinating creatures, with their spiral shells and slow yet steady pace, can be the inspiration for a delightful paper craft activity.
This project is perfect for children of all ages and only requires a few simple materials:
- Downloadable paper snail template (available on our blog)
- Colorful construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Markers (optional)
The best part? The possibilities for customizing this paper snail is endless.
In this article, I have provided detailed step-by-step instructions for the paper snail craft, accompanied by illustrative images for each step.
Let’s take a quick look at step 1 first i.e. to prepare the outline for cutting.
Step 1: Making the paper snail template
Before we begin with the paper snail craft, let me take you through the steps I took to craft the template.
First off, I sketched the cutout shapes needed for the snail’s body with a pencil.
Once I was happy with the shapes, I traced them in bold with a black marker, as you can see in the pictures 1.1 and 1.2 above.
Interesting Fact: Did you know snails have a rough tongue with thousands of teeth to shred their food.
Step 2: Download the Paper Snail Template If You Don’t Prefer Drawing
The ready template for the cutout is shown in the image above.
You can download this paper snail template for free to save some time (it saves a lot of time trust me).
So, simply print the template and you’re ready to start this activity.
Interesting Fact: Snails carry their spiral shell home wherever they go, for protection and comfort.
Step 3: Cutting colorful Shapes
With the template printed, I cut the shapes out of colorful craft papers.
If you have the template handy, you just need a few craft supplies like colorful papers, scissors, and glue.
In this case, I already cut them from my chosen colorful paper sheets, as shown in image 3.2 above.
Step 4: The Assembling Process
Once you have all your cutouts ready, it’s time to bring your paper snail to life.
I started by assembling the main body, using the brown shell piece as the base and preparing to add the other parts.
First, I attached the head and then I applied a thin line of glue to the edges that would be hidden behind the shell, carefully positioned the head, and gently pressed it down to secure it.
Next, I added the tail using the same technique followed by applying glue to the edges that would be tucked behind the shell, then positioned and pressed it down firmly.
Interesting Fact: That slimy trail helps them glide, climb, and even avoid predators.
Step 5: Shell Shades and the Antenna
To achieve a perfect look, I focused on the details, such as the curling shades of the shell.
I used a dark brown sheet for the shades and aligned and stuck it onto the shell shape.
To attach the tiny antennas on the snail’s head, I first stuck one behind the head shape.
Then, I attached the other antenna to the front of the head.
Step 6: The facial impressions
I brought the paper snail to life by adding eyes and a mouth.
First, I cut out a round shape in white for the eye and shaded it with a black marker.
Then, I drew a tiny curved line to create the snail’s smiling face.
Step 7: The Final Touch up (Snail Effects)
I added yellow circular and oval shapes around the snail’s body structure.
First, I placed the oval-shaped yellow cutout right beneath the snail’s eyes.
Then, I attached all the tiny circle shapes around its lower body.
Attaching these small cutouts can be tricky and requires patience.
If you look at the final image below, the paper snail looks amazing with the yellow patches on its body.
Video Walkthrough of paper Snail Craft
Final Thoughts
Briefly discuss the real snail’s anatomy with kids during the cutting stage.
If possible, point out the different parts of the template (shell, head, body) and how they correspond to a real snail (Doing this promotes general knowledge and education).
Also, encourage your kids to explore different color combinations and patterns for the snail’s shell and discuss concepts like warm and cool colors, or creating camouflage patterns.
For older children, you can challenge them to create their own unique shell design with multiple spirals.
Once the snail project is completed, use it as a puppet to create a story.
Encourage your child to come up with a name for their snail and imagine its adventures.
Note: For your reference, I have shared the complete video walkthrough of this particular craft activity on our official YouTube channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did it take to make this paper snail craft ?
It took 10 minutes for me to make this paper snail craft with the ready template from my blog.
Do I need a printer for this paper snail craft project?
No, if you don’t have access to a printer, you can opt for freehand-drawing on construction paper following the guide in the article. Alternatively, if it’s a one time activity get it printed from a local stationery shop.
Can I incorporate math skills into this snail project?
For older children, challenge them to measure the different parts of the snail (shell, body, head) and compare the sizes.
My child lost interest halfway through the craft. Any suggestions?
Take breaks, this paper snail craft can be done in stages. Complete a few steps at a time and come back to it later when your child has renewed energy.
