Activity 1

1. Print the outline of the snapping turtle at http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/turtle/Turtlecoloring.shtml. Color its beak yellow.

2. Visit Testudo, the University of Maryland's mascot at http://www.umd.edu/testudo.html. When did this terrapin get his start?

3. Visit the San Diego Zoo's Homepage on Reptiles: Turtle and Tortoise at this URL: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-turtle.html. Scroll halfway down the page until you see Fun Facts on the left-hand side. Which turtle is the fastest?

(If you want to make a sea turtle marionette, visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/kids/craft_trash_puppet.html to learn what materials you will need to complete the craft.)

4. Donna Rathmell is the author of a book about a sick loggerhead sea turtle and how she gets well again. Learn more about Ms. Rathmell's book "Carolina's Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too!" http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/carolina.htm.

There are several pictures on this page. One features the author and the illustrator. How many people in the photo are wearing glasses?

In the picture to the right, what do you think the turtle is going to eat?

(To learn more about sea turtles and to make your own, visit this URL: http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/images/CarolinaStory_CM.pdf)

5. Learn more about sea turtle life by visiting http://www.beachtobay.org/html/turtle_life.htm.

How many eggs do you see at the bottom of the page? _

Those eggs are also links! Click on Watch a Nest Hatch! to see turtles emerge from their nest. How many turtles do you think were born?

Answers:

1. The beak, located on the left-hand side, should be colored yellow.

2. 1932

3. Leatherback sea turtle

4. 2 people; fish

5. 6.; 50-120

1. What animal first appears when you click on this link http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/factsheets/herps/boxtur.htm?

2. Click on this link to see pictures of four different kinds of turtles found around the world: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/photogalleries/turtles/. Click on the pictures to the left to see these turtles in detail. Which turtle has the longest neck?

3. What is the name of the teacher who created this website? http://www.angelfire.com/nj/jordanroad. (For extra credit, click on Play the Interactive Game. How many points did you get?

4. Now let's visit some zoos where turtles can be found. Click on the links below and write down the names of the zoos you visited. Which zoo would you most like to visit? Use details to explain why.

http://www.hamiltonzoo.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145828988

http://www.beardsleyzoo.org/teachers-parents/animal.asp?mc_id=107

http://www.sazoo-aq.org/edzoocation/tinytot.html

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/

http://www.lintonzoo.com/

(If sound is available, click here http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-galapagos_tortoise.html and listen to what the expert has to say on Galapagos turtles.)

Answers:

1. Box turtle

2. Mississippi, Illinois

3. The snake-necked turtle

4. Mrs. Rydzewski

5. Hamilton Zoo, Beardsley Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, and Linton Zoo (non-US), (San Diego Zoo)

For Additional Information:

Read Captain Rene Heidt's narrative about braking for diamondbacks: http://www.sundialcharters.net/nature.htm

Learn more about World Turtle Day by visiting http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/a_closer_look_at_wildlife/turtles_and_tortoises /celebrate_world_turtle_day.html

See photos of other turtles at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/photogalleries/turtles/

Find out how students in New Jersey are headstarting their terrapins: http://www.angelfire.com/nj/jordanroad/FIRST.html