Let’s make a paper snake craft!

Looking for a preschool kid’s craft to do with empty toilet paper rolls? Try this paper snake craft inspired by a live snake seen during a show at the Liberty Science Center, New Jersey. 

Last weekend, we went to Liberty science center and saw a live snake in an animal show.

My son and I were really mesmerized by the looks, slithering moves, and patterns on the snake and were inspired to do this paper snake craft after coming home. 

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Toilet Paper Snake Craft

Materials Used to Make Paper Snake Craft

• Empty toilet paper roll or tissue paper rolls – you can also get craft rolls
• Washable paint of your choice – We chose brown, black and yellow – you could also get metallic paint
• Sponge for pattern
• Paintbrush for mixing
• Buttons & black tape for eyes or googly eyes
• Red pipe cleaner 
• Ribbon for gluing all the rolls together
• Hot glue gun 
• Scissors or preschool training scissors

Directions to Make Toilet Paper Snake Craft

Step 1

Paint the empty toilet paper rolls using a paintbrush in the color of your choice.

We chose brown inspired by the real snake we saw during our weekend trip to the science center (see above picture).

My little one loved painting the rolls.

Step 2

Allow painted rolls to dry.

Step 3

Cut a sponge in a square shape to make a pattern.

Mix a dollop of black paint with brown paint to get dark brown paint. Dip the sponge in the paint mixture to make the square pattern on the painted paper rolls. 

Step 4

Then repeat the previous step using yellow paint on both sides of the brown squares.

Allow that paint layer to dry.

Step 5

While the paint is drying, make tongue and eyes for the snake.

To make the snake tongue, twist the pipe cleaner as shown below.

To make the snake eyes, cut the center part of the eyes in black tape and stick it in the middle of the yellow button to make the snake eyes.

If you don’t have black tape, you could use black card stock or just a black marker to draw the eyes. 

Step 6

Take one of the painted paper rolls, use hot glue to glue the snake tongue inside of the roll and close the paper roll.

Cut two small triangles on either side to make the snake’s head as shown.

Then glue on the snake’s eyes. 

Step 7

Now take the ribbon and insert it on another end of the first paper roll and glue it:

1. If you are using paper towel rolls like me, you can cut them to the size of toilet paper rolls to make the snake curvy.
2. Thread each roll and glue the ribbon to the bottom using hot glue.
3. When you reach the last roll, close the end using glue and shape it like a tail using scissors. 

Finished Toilet Paper Snake Craft

The paper snake craft is done. Now you can take the snake and train it like you wish, dance or slither with it. We absolutely love how this snake craft turned out. 

Snake Craft for Preschool & Kindergarten

This is a great preschool or Kindergarten project to do with a group of kids and thread each of the rolls the kids painted into a big snake and display it. 

My son loved wearing the snake craft and pretending like he is holding a real snake and making afraid faces. 

Yield: 1 snake

Toilet Paper Roll Snake Craft for Kids

Print

This toilet paper roll craft is perfect for preschool and kindergarten age kids...and due to the realistic nature of how this turns out, older kids will enjoy it too! Painted toilet paper or paper towel rolls are strung together with string and a snake tongue and snake eyes are added. You can make these as long as you want...and they can look very realistic!

Active Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost $0

Materials

• toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls or craft rolls
• washable paint of your choice - we used brown, black and yellow
• sponge
• paintbrush
• buttons
• black tape
• red pipe cleaner
• ribbon

Tools

• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue gun glue
• Scissors or preschool training scissors

Instructions

1. Paint the empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls a consistent color - we used brown & let them dry.
2. Cut a sponge into a diamond pattern to use as a stamp for the snake skin.
3. Dip sponge into a dark color and make a pattern of diamonds down the edge of the painted rolls. Let dry.
4. Dip sponge into a lighter color and repeat the step above.
5. Make a snake tongue out of a red pipe cleaner by twisting and making a forked end.
6. Create snake eyes out of buttons and black tape or black paper.
7. Place tongue in the end of one painted tube and then glue and squeeze to a point. Snip either side making the snake head more triangular.
8. Glue on snake eyes.
9. Glue string or ribbon into the head end and then string on the other painted pieces. We had 12 pieces for our snake. Secure the end in the tail piece with more glue.

Additional Snake Learning for Kids 

Want to reinforce your “snake” learning?

Here is one of our favorite books, all about creepy crawling reptiles: Reptile (Eyewitness Books)

The Eyewitness book, Reptile has full-color photos and is a close up look at the habitats, behavior and natural history of reptiles.  It is for reading age 9-12, but younger kids will love learning about the subject and looking at the pictures.

More Snake Related Books for Kids

• Snakes – This National Geographic Kids book is all about snakes and targeted to kids 5-8.
• Snakes for Kids book: A junior Scientist’s Guide to Venom, Scales and Life in the Wild.  This educational book is for kids 6-9 years old.
• Smithsonian Snake book – A visual guide.  This book has amazing images and is targeted for kids 8-12 although younger kids will love looking at the pictures.

More Snake Crafts from Kids Activities Blog

• Make a beaded pipe cleaner snake craft
• Make a pretzel rod snake snack…yummy and cute!
• Make a snake as a letter S craft.
• Make a paper plate snake craft
• Make a pinecone snake craft
• Make a static electricity DIY snake charmer toy
• A snake is the centerpiece of our letter S coloring pages

How did your paper snake craft turn out?