Getting Started: Planning and Preparing for a Homeschool Unit on Slugs and Snails
I am always excited to find out the topics for The Little Naturalists Club, and you might think a Slugs and Snails unit would be limited, but throughout the design and illustration process, I was constantly amazed by the diversity and beauty of slugs and snails. These creatures may not be the most glamorous or exciting animals, but they are incredibly important and fascinating in their own right. It was a pleasure to be able to share my passion for these creatures with homeschooling families through this subscription box.
The project brief was to create a subscription box for homeschooling families. The box was to include a field guide on the topic, an activity guide, and activity materials such as a snail tracker and ID guide to help families find and identify British snails.
Double page spread in field guide
From Slimy to Stimulating: Making a Homeschool Unit on Slugs and Snails Fun and Educational
Hayley conducted extensive research on slugs and snails, which in turn I needed to transform visually, aiding in learning about their biology, habitats, and behaviour. This was a fascinating process, and I was amazed at how much there was to learn about these creatures that we often take for granted. I began sketching out ideas for the field guide and activity guide, which we curated together to flow as a unit.
The field guide was designed to be both informative and visually appealing, with detailed illustrations of different types of slugs and snails, their identifying features, and their habitats. The guide also included information on the importance of slugs and snails in the ecosystem and tips on how to create a snail-friendly garden.
The activity guide was designed to be hands-on and interactive, with a range of activities to help kids learn about slugs and snails in a fun and engaging way through art or science. One of my favourite activities was the snail tracker, in which I designed a worksheet and instructions to find and observe snails in their natural habitats and how far they can travel through the night.
There was also an ID guide to help kids identify different types of British snails and the unique behaviours of each one. This was made much smaller so children could carry it outdoors and help with hands-on learning.
Slugs and Snails ID Booklet
The Little Naturalists Club closed its doors on the subscription boxes, but past projects are available to download and print at home on Etsy.
You can download and print this Slugs and Snails unit here.
