Garden Visitors: The Snail ....

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Snails.. slow...slithery...leaving their trails..

...swirly whirly shelled snails!


We have had a lot of snails in the garden recently, hiding in the herb garden and underneath my Rhubarb. Maybe its because the weather has been so wet and mild. I have to admit i do love snails though, i really like their shells, the colours the shapes and patterns. Watching snails slowly slither along i feel can be quite calming. 


So what do we know about Snails ? 

  • There are over 40,000 species of land snail although only around 120 occur in Britain
  • The most common type of snail is the European Garden Snail
  • A snail is a Gastropod Mollusk
  • They are an invertabrate as they have a soft body and no bones 
  • They are mostly nocturnal 
  • They are herbivores which means they eat a variety of plant matter - they love flowers, herbs and vegetables!
  • They have both male and female reproductive organs
  • They lay eggs
  • Their shell is firmly attached to the body


Exploring snails with children ..

  • Read 'The Snail and the Whale' by Julia Donaldson
  • Go on a walk through the woodland and see how many snails you can spot
  • Set up and invitation on a shelf or table to explore garden creatures - this could include books, textures, small world creatures, magnifying glasses and pots, signs of the season, loose parts etc..
  • Design and make homes for snails



  • Allow opportunities for children to ask questions or tell you what they already know about snails. You could record this in a floor book, scrapbook or create a learning display
  • Use different kinds of shells with playdough or clay 
  • Add things to your mud kitchen that a snail would eat
  • Take playdough outdoors or to the woodland and create snails using natural materials you find
  • Draw pictures using a variety of mark making resources
  • Set up an invitation to explore spirals
  • Collect snails to study
  • Have a slow race, who can move slowest across the room or a race track
  • Set up a small world scene in the garden 
  • Write a letter to a snail 
  • Explore foods that a snail would eat

Have fun exploring Snails ! 








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