One possible test situation is to put a snail in the center of a ring of the test substance. Another method is to put the substance directly in front of the crawling snail. Encourage your students to test their own ideas. Many have become conditioned to feel that there is only one right way to do something. Have students design a race course and decide on ground rules for the snail races .
Snails move according to their own reflexes and instincts.
The better the student understands those reflex and instincts, the greater the probability the student will get his or her snail to crawl directly to the finish line during a snail race. Time trials or practice races give students a chance to their ideas. A snail race can be an activity at the end of this day, or it can be a featured event and take a whole day. A feature article and more photos followed on the front page of a later section. You might have a student contact the sports editor of your local paper with the details of your event.