How to Make a Rattle Snake Project

With a little adult help, children can easily make this cute rattlesnake project. Not only is the end result a bendable snake to play with, but it also reuses plastic Easter eggs, giving them additional useful life. This project is especially great for those eggs that are missing one half or that no longer snap together the right way. For younger children, make the project educational by asking them to identify the colors they are using to create the snake. For slightly older children, ask them to create color patterns and then identify those patterns.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic Easter eggs
• Drill
• Red yarn
• Plastic googly or felt eyes
• Dried beans or small pebbles
• Tape
• Glue

1. Separate all but two of the eggs. Put the tops of the eggs in one pile and the bottoms in the other.

2. Drill a small hole in the top and bottom of each of the two complete eggs.

3. Drill a small hole in the center of each of the egg bottoms.

4. Stack the egg bottoms together.

5. Cut a length of red yarn about 16 inches longer than the stack of egg bottoms.

6. Tie a double knot at one end of the yarn.

7. Wrap a piece of tape tightly around the opposite end of the yarn. The tape will stiffen the yarn and create a temporary "needle" to help thread the yarn through the holes.

8. Slide the yarn through the bottom of the whole egg that you plan to use as the tail; then slide it through the top of the same egg, leaving the egg open.

9. Place several dried beans or small pebbles in the bottom of the egg.

10. Snap the egg shut and place two or three small pieces of tape along the seam to make sure it stays closed.

11. Slide all of the egg bottoms onto the yarn. The bottoms should be slid on upside down so that the inner part stacks right on top of the tail.

12. Slide the bottom of the remaining whole egg onto the yarn, followed by the top.

13. Snap the egg shut and tape it closed.

14. Tie a double knot at the top of the last egg.

15. Leave 4 to 6 inches of thread beyond the knot for a tongue, and cut off any remaining yarn.

16. Glue plastic googly or felt eyes to the top of the head.

Tips & Warnings

• Use markers to draw patterns on the body or to draw the eyes if you don't have felt or googly eyes. If you accidentally drill holes that are too large, attach a pony bead between the knot and the first and last egg to keep the knot from slipping through.
• Don't put too much pressure on the egg while you are drilling or the egg will break.

References

• PreschoolRock - plastic egg rattlesnake