See if the snails in your garden have a homing instinct. This exercise is an entertaining way to investigate the behaviour of a common garden pest. It will increase your children's investigative skills.
Track your garden snails
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How long will it take?
As long as it takes to find some snails in your garden.
What you will need
- snails
- white correction fluid or brightly coloured nail varnish
Step-by-step guide
1 Help your children to find some snails in your garden.
2 Each time they find one they can put a dot of white correction fluid or nail varnish carefully on the top of its shell. Hold on to it while the correction fluid dries. Then take the marked snail out of your garden, but not too far away - as snails move very slowly!
3 Over the next few days, encourage your children to keep an eye out in the garden to see if they find any snails with correction fluid/nail varnish on their shells.
4 If any snails do find their way back to their original territory, the children will know that snails have a homing instinct. If not, they have just found out an amazing thing: how to get rid of snails!
Tips and advice
- Ensure children wash hands well after working with the snails.
- Warn your neighbours about the scientific work that is being carried out!
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