NAIDOC Week & Reconciliation

Celebrate indigenous culture with our NAIDOC Week craft ideas.

Rainbow Snake

In Aboriginal dreamtime stories, the Rainbow Snake was one of the creatures who shaped the earth and then inhabited various waterholes. When a rainbow is seen in the sky it is described as the rainbow snake travelling to a new waterhole after a storm disturbs him. Create your very own rainbow snake and tell this dreamtime story to your friends! You can find out more about the Rainbow Snake at Kullilla Art.

Search terms: NAIDOC, Aboriginal, indigenous inspired

CleverPatch™ recommends educators, teachers and event organisers work in consultation with their local Aboriginal Communities (start locally and extend out geographically) when planning activities & learning experiences. Any creative or art making activity that mirrors or replicates Aboriginal cultural experiences should always be undertaken in consultation with the appropriate owners of that cultural property.

Some materials and products may contain terms that reflect authors' views, both current or past. These views may not be considered appropriate today and are provided in a historical context. These views are not necessarily the views of CleverPatch.

  • Step 1Using wire cutters, cut a piece of armature wire double the length you would like your snake to be.
  • Remember to ask an adult for help when cutting the wire!
  • Step 3Join the two wire ends by twisting together and then flatten those ends back onto the wire frame. Bend the wire frame into a snake shape!
  • Pushing the wire frame into more of a long sausage shape will make it easier to wind the yarn around it - you can bend it into more of a snake shape after the yarn wrapping is complete!
  • Step 5Cut a piece of coloured yarn and tie it to one end of the wire snake in a double knot.
  • Step 6Begin wrapping the yarn around the wire frame. It’s okay to overlap the yarn as it covers the frame more effectively.
  • Step 7To help with wrapping the tricky curved end of the wire, cover it with a small piece of CleverTack. This will make the yarn stay where it is wrapped and not slide off the curve.
  • Step 8Continue to wrap the yarn around the frame. To change colour yarn simply tie a double knot between the end of the first piece of yarn and the next coloured piece and then continue wrapping!
  • Try not to wrap your yarn too tight as it will squish your snake into a very skinny sausage!
  • Step 10Wrap your entire snake in a variety of colours. Tie off the last piece of yarn with a double knot onto the wire frame.
  • Step 11Glue two small wiggle eyes onto your snakes head.
  • Step 12Your rainbow snake is now ready to be bent and twisted into a fantastic snake shape!

Materials used in this activity

Blu Tack - 75g Pack
Optional
Product Code: 10082
EACH $5.49 (inc GST) $4.99 (ex GST)
10 or more $4.39 (inc GST) $3.99 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
CleverPatch Junior PVA Glue - 250ml
Optional
Product Code: 10364
EACH $5.49 (inc GST) $4.99 (ex GST)
36 or more $3.84 (inc GST) $3.49 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 10814
EACH $18.69 (inc GST) $16.99 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 10897
EACH Was: $43.99 Now: $27.50 (inc GST) Was: $39.99 Now: $25.00 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Soft Yarn - 100g - Set of 10 Colours
Optional
Product Code: 12257
EACH $49.38 (inc GST) $44.89 (ex GST)
4 or more $38.38 (inc GST) $34.89 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Armature Wire - 3mm x 50m
Optional
Product Code: 14294
EACH $73.69 (inc GST) $66.99 (ex GST)
3 or more $54.99 (inc GST) $49.99 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value