Rattlesnake Curriculum
Is your class looking for something different and exciting? This curriculum resource links a variety of science and environmental topics with learning about the Massasauga rattlesnake.
Did you know that Ontario only has one species of rattlesnake? Did you know that Ontario's only rattlesnake is shy and secretive? Check out our rattlesnake curriculum for tons of interesting facts and sensssational activities that will make learning about rattlesnakes, and all of Ontario's snakes, fun and exciting!
Use the options below to select activities by grade or by topic. If you have any questions or are interested in additional resources for your classroom, please contact us!
Please contact Adopt-A-Pond (416-392-5999), or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

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Background Information: Snakes Of Ontario / Glossary and Appendices
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Snakes of Ontario Identifier Introduction
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Fact Sheet
Video Question Sheet
Answers to Video Question Sheet
1 - Updated Ontario Curriculum Guidelines
2 - Rattlesnake Safety Sheets
- Snake Safety Sheets
- Snake bite Information
- Certificate of Appreciation
3 Student Activity Sheets, Units 1 to 5
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Grades 1 - 8 by strand
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NOTE: Roll your Mouse over the yellow boxes to link to the associated Activities
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Grades 9 - 12 by Strand
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NOTE: Roll your Mouse over the yellow boxes to link to the associated Activities
Grades 9 and 10 - Strands
Course Strand B: Biology Strand C: Chemistry Strand D: E & S Strand E: Physics 9 Academic SNC1D Sustainable Ecosystems
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ActivityActivity Name 1.1.1 Monstrous Appetites 2.1.2 A Matter of Life and Death 2.2.2 Deadly Links For Rattlesnakes 4.1.1 Cottagers Debate 4.1.2 Public Relations Executive 4.1.3 The Round Up Debate 4.1.5 Rattlesnake Poster Campaign 5 The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: Group Research Motivators, Follow-up and Resources 5 Toronto Zoo, Ojibway Nature Centre, Science North 5 Rattlesnake Resources Atoms, Elements and Compounds The Study of the Universe The Characteristics of Electricity 9 Applied SNC1P Sustainable ecosys and human activity
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ActivityActivity Name 2.1.1 Snakes in the Snow 2.1.2 A Matter of Life and Death 2.2.2 Deadly Links For Rattlesnakes 4.1.1 Cottagers Debate 4.1.2 Public Relations Executive 4.1.3 The Round Up Debate 4.1.5 Rattlesnake Poster Campaign 5 The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: Group Research Motivators, Follow-up and Resources 5 Toronto Zoo, Ojibway Nature Centre, Science North 5 Rattlesnake Resources Exploring Matter Space Exploration Electrical Applications 10 Academic SNC2D Tissues, Organs and sys. Of living things Chemical Reactions Climate Change Light and geometric optics 10 Applied SNC2P Tissues, Organs and Systems Chem reactions and their practical appl. Earth's Dynamic Climate light and applications of optics
Grades 11 and 12 - Strands
Course Strand B Strand C Strand D Strand E Strand F 11 U Biology SBI3U Diversity of Living Things
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ActivityActivity Name 1.1.1 Monstrous Appetites 2.1.1 Snakes in the Snow 4.1.1 Cottagers Debate 4.1.3 The Round Up Debate 5 The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: Group Research Motivators, Follow-up and Resources 5 Toronto Zoo, Ojibway Nature Centre, Science North 5 Rattlesnake Resources Evolution Genetic Processes Animals: Structure and Function
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ActivityActivity Name 1.1.1 Monstrous Appetites Plants: Anatomy, growth and function 11 C Biology SBI3C Cellular Biology Microbiology Genetics Anatomy of Mammals Plants in the Natural Environment 12 U Biology SBI4U Biochemistry Metabolic Processes Molecular Genetics Homeostasis Population Dynamics
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ActivityActivity Name 4.1.2 Public Relations Executive 5 The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: Group Research Motivators, Follow-up and Resources 5 Toronto Zoo, Ojibway Nature Centre, Science North 5 Rattlesnake Resources 11 U/C Enviro. Sci.SVN3M Sci. Solutns to cont. enviro challenges
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ActivityActivity Name 4.1.3 The Round Up Debate 5 The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: Group Research Motivators, Follow-up and Resources 5 Toronto Zoo, Ojibway Nature Centre, Science North 5 Rattlesnake Resources Human Health and the environment Sustainable Agric. and Forestry Reducing and Managing waste Conservation of Energy 11 E Enviro. Sci SVN3E Human impact on the environment
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ActivityActivity Name 4.1.2 Public Relations Executive 4.1.3 The Round Up Debate 5 The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: Group Research Motivators, Follow-up and Resources 5 Toronto Zoo, Ojibway Nature Centre, Science North 5 Rattlesnake Resources Human Health and the environment Energy Conservation Natural Resource Sci. and Mgmt. The Safe and enviro resps. Workplace
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Snake Curriculum by Topic
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NOTE: Roll your Mouse over the yellow boxes to link to the associated Activities
Topic Snake Biology
1.1.1 Monstrous Appetites 1.2.1 Making Scales 1.2.2 Snakeskin Shedding Speedway 1.2.3 The Great Snake Detective 1.3.1 Can You Find Me? 1.3.2 Feel The Vibrations Snake Ecology
2.1.1 Snakes in the Snow 2.1.2 A Matter of Life and Death 2.2.1 The Chain Gang 2.2.2 Deadly Links for Rattlesnakes Ethics and Culture
3.1.1 If You Were A Snake 3.1.2 Legends and Myths 3.1.3 Missing Links Conservation
4.1.1 Cottagers Debate 4.1.2 Public Relations Executive 4.1.3 The Round Up Debate 4.1.4 Let Your Creative Juices Flow! 4.1.5 Rattlesnake Poster Campaign The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: Group Research
5 The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: Group Research Motivators, Follow-up and Resources 5 Toronto Zoo, Ojibway Nature Centre, Science North 5 Rattlesnake Resources
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View all Snake Curriculum Content
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Introduction
Acknowledgements
Snakes of Ontario Identifier
Introduction
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Fact Sheet
Video Question Sheet
Answers to Video Question Sheet
UNIT 1 - Snake Biology: Introduction to the Amazing Biology of RattlesnakesSection 1: Ectotherms
Activity 1.1: Monstrous AppetitesSection 2: Snakeskin
Activity 2.1: Making Scales
Activity 2.2: Snakeskin Shedding Speedway
Activity 2.3: The Great Snake DetectiveSection 3: Snake Senses
Activity 3.1: Can You Find Me?
Activity 3.2: Feel the Vibrations.
UNIT 2 - Snake Ecology: Explore Hibernation, Food Webs and Ecological Connections of RattlesnakesSection 1: Hibernation
Activity 1.1: Snakes in the Snow
Activity 1.2: A Matter of Life and DeathSection 2: Communities
Activity 2.1: The Chain Gang
Activity 2.2: Deadly Links for Rattlesnakes
UNIT 3 - Ethics and Culture: Dispelling Negative Views of RattlesnakesActivity 1.1: If You Were a Snake
Activity 1.2: Legends and Myths
Activity 1.3: Missing Links
UNIT 4 - Conservation: Explore Challenges and Innovative Approaches to Protecting the Eastern Massasauga RattlesnakeActivity 1.1: Cottagers Debate
Activity 1.2: Public Relations Executive
Activity 1.3: The Round Up Debate
Activity 1.4: Let Your Creative Juices Flow
Activity 1.5: Rattlesnake Poster Campaign
UNIT 5 - The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: Follow-up Activities and ResourcesGroup Work and Research Motivators
Follow Up Activities
& (Toronto Zoo, Ojibway Nature Centre, Science North)
Rattlesnake Resources
APPENDICESAPPENDIX 1 Ontario Curriculum Guidelines APPENDIX 2 Rattlesnake Safety Sheets
Snake Safety Sheet
Snake Bite Information
Certificate of AppreciationAPPENDIX 3 Student Activity Sheets, Units 1 through 5
Please contact Adopt-A-Pond (416-392-5999), or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.