Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Collection of snake craft ideas using various materials

[Childcare] Collection of snake craft ideas using various materials

Last updated:2025/3/3

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

We’re excited to introduce crafts for making snakes that wiggle adorably!

In this article, you’ll find ideas for creating snakes using various materials and recyclables like paper cups and paper plates.

Some children may not be fond of snakes, but we’ve included lots of craft ideas that make the most of snake-like features—such as their slithering movement and springy jumps—so please try making them together and have fun playing!

Because the items children make are treated as works or projects, we use the term “seisaku” (production/creation) in the text.

[Childcare] A collection of snake craft ideas using various materials (1–10)

Snake made with paper chains

Amazing Paper Snake | Moving paper toys | Easy paper crafts

Snake made with paper chains

Here’s how to make a simple snake toy using paper chains! Prepare strips of construction paper in two colors you like—eight strips of each color, sized 2.5 × 11 cm—and for one of the colors, prepare nine strips.

You’ll also need glue and parts for the snake’s face.

First, glue the two colors into alternating paper chain links.

For the last link, cut it into the shape of the snake’s head.

Glue on the face parts like the eyes and mouth, then loop the head through as the final link to finish.

It’s also fun to add more paper strips to make a longer snake.

For the face parts, it’s recommended to use easy-to-handle items like round stickers, adjusting to the child’s age.

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a wiggly, wriggling snake

Moving snake with origami - DIY paper snake

a wiggly, wriggling snake

Here’s how to make a wiggly snake toy out of colored construction paper.

You’ll need two sheets of colored construction paper, additional colored paper for the snake parts, glue, and a pen.

First, place the long side of a sheet toward you, fold it into eight equal sections, and cut along the folds.

Next, line up strips of different colors perpendicular to each other and weave/fold them alternately.

Keep gluing as you go and connect all 16 strips.

Finally, glue on the snake parts made from colored paper, and draw the eyes with a pen.

Using round stickers for the eyes also works great and is recommended!

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Dancing Snake

Let's Make and Play: Let's Build a Snake (Matsubushi NLP #62)

Dancing Snake

Let’s make a snake toy that dances on top of a paper cup! You’ll need chenille stems (pipe cleaners), a thick straw, an awl, a permanent marker, and scissors.

First, draw a snake on the paper cup however you like.

When you’re done, make a hole around the center of the cup and insert the straw.

Seal the hole with wood glue so no air can escape, and that part is complete.

Next, wrap a chenille stem around a thick straw to make the snake, and place it on top of the paper cup you just made—that’s it! Now put the straw to your mouth and make some sounds! The snake’s movement will change depending on how you use your voice, so give it a try!

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A snake made with origami

[Origami] Cute: How to Make a Snake | Origami Snake Tutorial

A snake made with origami

We’ll show you how to fold a snake that looks two-toned using a single sheet of origami paper.

First, fold the paper into a triangle twice to make a cross-shaped crease, then open it with the colored side facing up.

Fold the top and bottom edges to the center point and unfold.

Next, fold the bottom corner up to the topmost crease to make a crease, then open it.

Fold up to the very bottom line, open it again, rotate the paper, and repeat the same steps on the other side.

Now, starting from the bottom, accordion-fold up to the center line, and do the same on the opposite side.

Finally, fold the whole piece in half, then adjust the angle of the snake’s head and add bends to create a wavy body, and you’re done! It looks super cute when you make it with different kinds of origami paper!

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Wiggly snake made from a toilet paper roll

Let's make a wiggly snake with a toilet paper roll core!

Wiggly snake made from a toilet paper roll

Here’s how to make a wiggly snake toy using toilet paper rolls! You’ll need four toilet paper rolls, pipe cleaners, snake parts (like eyes and tongue), crayons, and glue.

First, cut each toilet paper roll in half with scissors, then take one half and cut it open down the middle.

Fold it in half to make a center crease, then round off the four corners with scissors to create a template.

Wrap this template around the remaining roll halves and cut them into rounded pieces.

Two of these will be the snake’s head and tail, so only cut out one side for those pieces.

Punch a hole near the top of each piece with an awl or similar tool, then thread a pipe cleaner through the holes to connect the segments.

Bend both ends of the pipe cleaner to secure them.

Glue on the parts, color with crayons, and you’re done!

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A snake that stretches when wet with water

[Craft] A snake that stretches when it gets wet!? ★SANSAN Kids TV★ #shorts

A snake that stretches when wet with water

It grows when you pour water on it! Here’s how to make a mysterious snake.

You’ll need tissues, an oil-based color pen, a pencil, water, a spoon, and a plate.

First, draw any pattern you like on the tissue with the color pen, then wrap the tissue tightly around the pencil.

Slide it off while compressing the tissue, draw the snake’s eyes with a black pen, and it’s done! Place it on a plate and pour water over it with a spoon, and the snake will stretch out.

It’s very simple, so try making it with kids!

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Snake-in-the-box

@hannah1000c
Aspiring childcare worker Jack-in-the-box #HandmadeToys Childcare student Arts and crafts #Milk carton
♬ son original – FRENCH FUSE

I’m going to show you how to make a jack-in-the-box with a jumping snake! Materials: three colors of construction paper, additional construction paper for the snake parts, a milk carton, rubber bands, clear tape, glue, and a box.

First, cut the construction paper to match one-third of the height from the bottom of the milk carton, and glue it on.

Then, with the construction paper as a guide, cut the milk carton itself into three equal sections.

On the four short sides of each section, cut small slits so rubber bands can hook on.

After hooking rubber bands onto all the slits, connect the short sides with clear tape.

Make the snake’s face parts with construction paper and glue them on, then fold the snake and place it in the box.

When you open the box, the snake will spring out—your jack-in-the-box is complete!

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