So … I’m not a herpetologist. But I am a mama who likes to be informed, especially when it comes to matters of safety.
Lots of people are afraid of snakes. I understand this — and let’s be clear, there definitely are some dangerous snakes that are native to the U.S., and those should be avoided entirely by anyone who isn’t trained to deal with them. It’s a good idea to teach your children never to touch a snake (other than a family pet, if you’re that sort of household) unless an adult is present and has verified that it’s non-venomous.
Just like you, I want my kids to be safe, first and foremost. But I’m also saddened to see beneficial creatures killed out of the fear of the unknown. “Better safe than sorry” is not a reason to kill a potentially harmless snake — and that doesn’t even take into account that in an increasingly large number of states, it’s actually against the law to harm them!
In this download that I’d like to share with you today, you’ll find photos of snakes that can be found in the United States. This 16-page PDF file is ready to print on card stock and cut apart to create Montessori 3-part cards. It includes both venomous and non-venomous species, so you and yours can be informed and safe this summer. Red borders will help your kids identify the venomous snakes, and green borders indicate the ones that are not only harmless, but often helpful.
Please note: this is NOT an exhaustive list of snakes (there are more than 30 species of rattlesnake, for example!) but it should help with some of the most common ones.
I hope this download will help instill a little confidence about identifying these misunderstood creatures, as you and your little ones tackle your summer adventures in the great outdoors. Just don’t forget to drop a line to tell us all about it, and maybe even share a photo, if your family does encounter a snake in the wild.
Enjoy!
Click to download (2.6MB PDF file):
Snake Identification 3-Part Cards
Don’t miss the Science Camp project
that can also help students identify
venomous and non-venomous snakes!
