Coiled Cobra, Ready to Strike!

Do snakes frighten you? Discover more about the life of a king cobra. For what is it really hunting?

• 1.

  This is one way to make a realistic scene with a king cobra ready for action. Research details about these snakes’ diet, habitat, and anatomy. Use your knowledge and creativity to make a replica of the animal in its natural surroundings. This is one way to sculpt the science project. To store sections of your project and any remaining compound between sessions, keep them in a resealable plastic storage container.

• 2.

  Cover an empty, dry, plastic water bottle with Crayola Model Magic® compound. A thin cover pressed on with your fingertips will look just like a tree trunk. Press some Model Magic compound on the bottom of the bottle to make a grass base for your tree.

• 3.

  Coil chenille stems into a spiral at one end. Press Model Magic on the spiral to form leaves. Use a craft stick to make veins in the leaves.

• 4.

  Twist several chenille stems together to make an armature for your cobra. Mix different colors of Model Magic compound together to make a realistic cobra color. Cover the armature for the snake’s body. Form a ball on one end for the snake’s head.

• 5.

  Complete the cobra with realistic details. Add eyes. Shape white fangs at the top of the mouth. Pinch Model Magic compound around the head to create the cobra’s neck ribs that form a hood when it’s ready to attack. Add snakeskin texture with small Model M

• 6.

  To assemble your science display, wrap the snake around tree trunk and press them together. Place the chenille stem leaves into the open top of the bottle. Model Magic® dries to the touch overnight and dries completely in 2 to 3 days.

• 7.

  Your cobra is ready to hunt for its prey—or display as part of a science exhibit.

Benefits

• Students research information about cobras, their lives, and habitats.
• Students sculpt detailed replicas of cobras in their natural habitat for display.

Adaptations

• Are cobras really charmed by music as often portrayed in cartoons? Research to find out.
• Identify the areas of the world where cobras live. Locate them on a world map.
• Make a chart showing types of venomous snakes from smallest to largest.
• Assessment: Have students researched king cobras to retrieve sufficient information? Are replicas accurate representations of cobras and their habitats? Do they contain realistic details?