The Slug and the Snail Read Aloud Lesson Ideas

Ideas on How To Use: The Slug and the Snail

About the Author

The Slug and the Snail is a book by author Oein DeBhairduin's tale, rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community, is about identity and different ways of seeing the world.

The Slug and the Snail

This story is about two slugs travelling happily together until a crow asks them where their home is. The younger brother, embarrassed, makes himself a shell, and calls himself snail. The older brother carries on as he is. At first, the brothers grow apart. But in time, they learn to respect each other's way of life.

Themes covered: Identity, Difference, Being left out, Importance of Kindness. 

Here are some ideas for things to talk about while reading the book - you could ask a few

different questions each time you read it.

About the Author: 

The Slug and the Snail is a book by author Oein DeBhairduin's. A member of the Traveller community, Oein LOVES to share stories from his childhood that have been passed down to him from his family and friends.

Feelings/Non verbal communication 

• Look at the front page, what do you see?
• What do you think the slug and snail are talking about?
• Do the slug and snail look happy or sad or excited? 
• Can you spot a bird in the picture? 
• What kind of bird do you see? (A crow)
• What do you think the crow is feeling? Is he or she curious? 
• Where do you think the snail and slug are going to?

Sound identification/revision

• Depending on what phonics sound you are working on, you could ask the children if they can spot the letter s on the front page? 
• Can you remember what sound 's'  makes?
• Blending: s l u g

Dolch/Sight Words: 

• Depending on what Dolch/sight words you have taught, you could ask the children if they can spot a Dolch/sight word in the title of the book
• Can they put 'the' in a sentence. 

Time: 

What time of the day you think it is? How do you know it is the evening time? (sun is setting)

Season:

What season do you think it is? 

Why do you think it is summer? (Flowers are blooming, trees are green etc). 

Beginning the story: 

• How do you think the little boy felt when he did not get invited to the party?
• Why do you think the other boy 'looked down' on Travellers? 
• Why is it important to tell our parents or an adult about something that has made us very sad?

The Slug and the Snail: Before building a shell

• Were the slugs happy before the crow laughed at them for not having a shell?
• How did the slugs feel after the crow laughed at them?
  
• What did the slugs do after the crow laughed at them?

The Slug and the Snail: After building a shell

• How did having a shell change their way of living?
• How did they learn to respect their way of living?

End of the story and Discussion:

• What do you think we could learn from this story of the slug and the snail?
• What different types of homes do people like to live in? 
• Why is it important not to judge a person for living in a different way?  

Integrating other learning following this book:

You can continue learning across other subjects following this book. Click on the subjects below for free resources and other lesson ideas.