Pythons in the Wild

Where do pythons live? What do these notorious snakes look like? Create a fascinating 3-D science project in a recycled box.

• 1.

  Learn more about pythons by visiting Web sites. Read books such as Verdi by Janell Cannon or Snakes by Seymour Simon. Pythons and other snakes usually live in environments where they can hide from predators. In this project, you will create a natural python habitat diorama. A python might be found in water, in trees, or even curled up on a rock, depending on the type of python! Use your imagination and the information you gathered to plan your diorama. These are some ideas.

• 2.

  Cover a recycled cardboard box with construction paper that goes with the python theme. Cut or tear the paper to achieve a natural background look.

• 3.

  Cover your craft area with newspaper. Paint details into the scene and on the outside of the box. Mix colors to achieve a realistic look. Paint a cardboard tube to look like a fallen log upon which a python might rest. Air-dry the paint.

• 4.

  Sculpt a Crayola Model Magic® pond or stream in the scene. Air-dry it for 24 hours before placing it into your scene.

• 5.

  Glue the log and natural materials, such as moss, stones, and twigs, into the diorama.

• 6.

  Cut large leaves from construction paper. Decorate them with Crayola Markers. Glue leaves to the inside of the box so they hang down around the inside of your diorama. You might add leaves to the outside of your display, too.

• 7.

  Roll out beautiful Model Magic pythons. Hang them over branches, around rocks, and in the water. Create other details with Model Magic and paper to complete your python display.

• 8.

  Display your diorama with a report containing information about pythons.

Benefits

• Students research information about python habitats and anatomy.
• Students create a 3-D model to represent what they learned about how a python’s appearance and behavior relate to its natural environment.

Adaptations

• Play Python Trivia. Generate and ask each other questions about pythons.
• Hold a Python Web Quest. Small groups investigate different types of pythons. Take turns teaching the class in oral presentations. Make a chart to compare and contrast different kinds of pythons.
• Create snakes that blend with the habitat. Classmates try to find the number of pythons in each other’s dioramas!
• Invent, create, and describe a unique species of python. Imagine the python’s appearance, habitat, and behavior.
• Assessment: Students found detailed information about python habitats and lives. Dioramas were carefully constructed and contained representative details of a python habitat in the wild.