? Teaching kids about turtles, I need help?

Question

I'm teaching Kindergarten students about diamond back terrapins on Wednesday and I need help coming up with ideas for it, because they are so young. Please, if you could help me come up with some ideas that would be great!

We have one large female, and a young male and female I use to so the kids but they are not allowed to touch them. Plus 100's of babies.

Answer 1

What you're doing is very noble. We need to reach children while they're still young about the role of reptiles in our ecosystem and just how important they really are. If I were you, I'd go to the Turtle & Tortoise Club's website, http://www.tortoise.org/ and gather as much info off their database as I could. Sort through it and decide what they would be able to understand and simplify as much as you can. Also, I'd look for coloring sheets of turtles that you could print en masse and hand out as a fun activity, so they're not just listening to a speel of information. Make it into a game, a fun activity, so they enjoy it and retain what you're teaching them. Do you have any other reptiles? If so, take them too and point out differences. Talk about the things that are threatening them in the wild too.

I just finished lecturing to five different classrooms myself last week, so all this is still fresh in my mind. I took my male ball python, my amelanistic corn snake, my savannah monitor and my greek tortoise. I pointed out differences and similarities in their body structure, what they ate, where they lived, wht their role in the ecosystem is, ect, and let the kids ask questions. I think it went over really well, and I'm going to another school before the end of the month, and setting up a booth at a local festival this summer in order to teach people about reptiles. I'm also going to see if I can go to the local library this summer to give the kids and parents something to do. I wish you the best of luck with this--what you're doing is great! Hope I was able to help!

Answer 2

Since the main care could be performed via adults, then I could say sure. They make pleasant pets. Some matters to hold in brain regardless that, small turtles (beneath four inches) are not able to legally be offered or stored within the US, (Though you'll discover them far and wide). They deliver salmonella which may also be lethal to kids. There are therapies and approaches to regard the critters regardless that, and it's handy sufficient to hold everybody healthful if arms are washed entirely earlier than and after dealing with the turtles. I do not know of any turtles that keep small and bear in mind they are able to are living one hundred years (or extra), so larger plan on pleasant grandchildren being as pleased with turtles are you're... Pet turtles may also be published into the wild (typically) whether it is allowable within the discipline wherein you are living and if you happen to hold their instincts intact, like once in a while feeding are living meals (minnows). If you don't seem to be scared off but, then opt for it! I have 6 exclusive sorts, and feature had many others for the period of the years. four of mine correct now are certain demands and will in no way be published.

Answer 3

Start by handing out a bag of 'goodies' that a turtle would find in his home or something. Like a brown paper bag with some rocks or sticks and a paper with a simple puzzle on a turtle's back. Also, having a snak that is turtle-type-food would be a great way to let them relate. Maybe they can have a small salad or some fish(cooked of course)?

Bring the turtles in one by one to show them what they look like. Describe their habitat, or bring a small 10gal tank to show them what it would look like. Let them see you set it up(put the sand/rocks in, then the water, then other things like plants). Place the turtle in the tank so they can see how they swim and move around. Feed the turtles, etc. You can do a lot of things. I had to educate kids on painted turtles a while back and I just told them the basics and let them ask the rest. They come up with some good questions, but mostly stories about how they had one of those, but it either died or ran away. Kinda sad, but the truth.

Definately warn them of salmonella, and tell them why they cant touch the turtle. Also, tell them about how turtles can be pets in teh RIGHT circumstances. With kids, you need to be direct. If you get to these guys about the basics of turtles, they might not kill them in the future.

Good luck and have tons of fun. I know it was fun when I did it.

Answer 4

Remember to make sure they wash their hands if they touch the turtles at all. The last thing you need is to send the children home and have them vomited all over their parents at night.

Really cool trick I learned while working at a pet store many years back.... if the turtles will not come out of their shells and move around for the children to see, go to the pet store and buy something called bitter apple. Spray some of the bitter apple on a small amount of tuna and hold it to the turtles mouth or place the tuna a few inches away from the turtle. The turtle will come out and move around trying to get to the food and the children will see the turtle being "active" if you know what I mean. Trust me. For some reason or another, they love the combo of tuna and bitter apple. I even shocked some vets with that information but they came back to me and said it worked for them, too.

Answer 5

When I have done turtle programs for kids, some things I have included have been:

Pretend you are a turtle. Why would a shell be a good idea? What problems does it cause?

Can a turtle come out of the shell? Why not? (if available, show an empty turtle shell, point out the spinal column)

Why does a turtle pull its head and arms in? When it does, it's elbows touch. Can you touch your elbows together like that? (try it) Can you walk like a turtle? (do it) While walking, if an enemy shows up, can you pull into your shell quickly? (do it)

Turtles are slow, so how can they catch food and avoid predators?

How do turtles spend the winter?

What do turtles eat? (ask them, then tell them) Would you eat this? Do turtles and people eat the same thing?

Art project- Diamondbacks are great for this because they are so colorful. Give each child a basic turtle outline to color like one of the turtles they saw.

Answer 6

Hmm... kindergartners.... it's iffy, but it can be done. Remember attention spans, this is a BIG issue. Fun, fun, fun, lots of props, coloring sheets for afterwards, ask them questions and have little prizes (I'd steer away from candy, try to find some turtle stickers) for correct answers.

They're not going to care a whole lot about scientific names or any dull stuff, so keep it fun, talk about food, how little they are when they hatch, stuff like that. (If you think the kids are up to it, a small live blue crab, preferably one meant for a human dinner table, thrown into the tank with a few larger terrapins is always fun, IF YOU THINK THE KIDS ARE UP TO IT. We've realized our error sometimes when we try this with earthworms and box turtles... some kids just love everything, you know.)

Just curious, where do you have all these terrapins? I wanna go! :)

Answer 7

Wow do you really think you should be using turtles so young? Ha Ha Ha ok just try to make a game out of it. Ask them questions about the turtles (i.e what do they eat? that sort of thing) It seems to work well with kids and they enjoy themselves. Maybe buy a bunch of those cheap candies as a reward for a correct answer.

Hope it goes well

Answer 8

Talk about diet- maybe have that for snack (if it's not gross)

Talk about habitat, the plants and animals that live in the same places.

Talk about evading predators/survival in the wild. How it's shell, coloring, mouth, feet, eyes, all help it survive and why they are special to that turtle/all turtles.

Talk about environment and if it's endangered.

If you have trouble talking about that certain terrapin, broaden the subject to all turtles and/or tortoises.

Good luck

Answer 9

Bringing a live turtle is dangerous to there health you know salmonela. Bring a picture of a turtle. If you can make it poster size. then draw lines on parts of the body. on index cards write the body parts then have your kids match them up. its a game that helps them learn, then talk about turtle's, add something that makes them laugh( you know because there little) hope this helps!

Answer 10

Careful if you're going to bring in a live turtle. I jsut read this on babycenter today:

Baby turtles pose serious health risk to kids
MONDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) — In response to the recent death of a 4-week-old infant in Florida, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a reminder that baby turtles can pose a serious health risk to infants, small children, and adults with impaired immune systems.

Baby turtles can carry salmonella, a group of bacteria that can cause severe illness and death, the FDA said. Salmonella can be found on the outer skin and shell surfaces of the turtles and can infect people who do not properly wash their hands after handling the animals.

The FDA said that parents and others who care for children need to remember that:

• Salmonella infection can be caused by contact with turtles in petting zoos, parks, day-care facilities and other locations.

• It's important to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling or touching turtles and their housing.

• The sale of turtles with a shell less than 4 inches long is illegal. Exceptions include sales of turtles intended for export only, or for bona fide scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes.

Each year in the United States, there are an estimated 74,000 cases of turtle-associated salmonellosis in humans, the FDA said. Gastrointestinal symptoms caused by salmonella bacteria usually begin 12 to 36 hours after exposure and generally last for two to seven days.

-- HealthDay News, News