Reptile Round Up An Educator s Guide 1
GRADES:K3 PROGRAMDESCRIPTION:ThisguideprovidedbytheOklahomaAquariumexplores reptilesandtheiruniquecharacteristics.studentswillbeabletorecognizethemain groupsofreptilesandbeabletostatethecommontraitstheypossess.duringtheir visittotheoklahomaaquariumstudentswillcomeincontactwithmanyreptile speciessuchascrocodiliansandturtles. *BeforeyourclassvisitstheOklahomaAquarium* Thisguidecontainsinformationandactivitiesforyoutousebothbeforeandafter yourvisittotheoklahomaaquarium.youmaywanttoreadstoriesaboutreptiles, observereptiles,presentinformationinclass,orutilizesomeoftheactivitiesfrom thisbooklet. 2
Table of Contents ReptileRoundUpAbstract3 EducatorInformation4 Vocabulary5 Internetresourcesandbooks6 PASSstandards7 AccompanyingActivities MeasuringaTurtle(K3)8 WhatareReptiles?(23) 10 ReptileDefensemechanisms(23)12 ReptileColor(4)(K3)13 3
REPTILEROUNDUP:ABSTRACT Somescientistsbelievethatreptileshavebeenaroundformillionsofyears.Extinct reptilessuchasdinosaurs,whichwerelanddwellingandicthyosaurs,whichwere marinereptileshavestrongsimilaritiestomoderndayreptiles.moderndayreptiles shareseveralcharacteristics.reptilesarevertebratesmeaningtheyhaveaback bone.scalesarenotonlyfoundontheskinofreptilestheyarealsofoundonthe shellsofturtles.thescalesfoundonaturtle sshellareknownasscutes.reptiles havetobreatheairandevenaseaturtlewhichspendsmostofitslifeinthewater hastocomeuptobreatheair.mostreptileslayeggswhicharelaidonland.reptiles areknownasectothermic(coldblooded),whichmeansthattheycannotregulate theirownbodytemperature.reptilesrelyontheirsurroundingstoprovidewarmth fortheirbodies.withoutthesun swarmthareptilecannotmovearoundoreven digesttheirfood.unfortunatelyreptilescannotshivertowarmuporsweattocool offlikemammals.thefollowinganimalsareconsideredtobereptiles:lizards,snakes, turtles,andcrocodilians.crocodiliansarenotjustcrocodiles,theyalsoinclude alligators,caimanandgavials.somereptilesarestrictlycarnivores,suchassnakes, whileothersareherbivoreslikethegreenseaturtle.somelizardslikebearded dragonshaveanomnivorousdiet,consumingbothmeatandvegetation.thelargest livingreptileisthesaltwatercrocodilewhichgrowsto1318ftinlengthandcan weighupto3000lbs.thesmallestreptileisthebrookesiachameleonwhichisthe sizeofyourfingernail.crocodilesandalligatorsareverysimilarbutcanbe distinguishedfromeachotherbythefollowingfactors;alligatorshaveaushaped snoutwhilecrocodileshaveavshapedsnout.alligatorshaveawidertopjaw,so whentheirmouthsareclosedtheirbottomteetharehiddenwhileacrocodile sjaws areapproximatelythesamesizecausingalargetoothfromthebottomjawtostick outwhenthejawsareclosed.thereareotherdifferencesbetweenalligatorsand crocodileshoweverthedifferenceslistedabovearethemostnoticeable.thereare3 differenttypesofturtles,theseaturtle,thetortoiseandtheterrapin.themain differencesbetweenturtletypesarewheretheylive;whetherfreshwater,saltwater, orterrestrial.aturtlehasthreemainpartstoitsshellwhichaffecttheirabilityto swim.thetoppartoftheshellisthecarapace,thebottompartistheplastronand thesidemechanismthathooksthemtogetheriscalledthebridge.anaquaticturtle musthavethinbridgesinordertohaveenoughroomfortheirlegstoeffectively moveinthewater.seaturtlesonlyliveinsaltwater,andinsteadofhavinglegsthey haveflippers.terrapinsareturtlesthatliketospendtheirlivesinfreshwater,andin ordertosupporttheiraquaticlifestyletheyhaveadaptedlongtoenailsandwebbed toesinordertoswim.tortoisesarebuiltliketankspossessingshorttoenailsand largebridges.thiscumbersomeshellpreventsthetortoisefromswimming. 4
ReptileRoundUp EDUCATORINFORMATION: NoneofthereptilesattheOklahomaAquariumarevenomous. ThereareonlyafewtypesofvenomoussnakeinOklahoma,thecopperhead, cottonmouth,westerndiamondback,timberrattlesnake,prairierattlesnake andwesternmassasauga. Thebandedwatersnakeonexhibitisnotvenomous,theonlyvenomous watersnakeinoklahomaisthecottonmouth. InNorthAmerica,venomoussnakeshavecateyepupilswhilenonvenomous haveroundpupils. InNorthAmericavenomoussnakeshaveamorediamondshapedheadwhile nonvenomoushavearounderhead. Onothercontinentsthesetraitsdonotholdtrue,forexampleakingcobra hasaroundpupilandishighlyvenomous. ThemostvenomoussnakesintheworldisaBelcher sseasnakewithapotent venomabletokill1000people. 5
VOCABULARY: Archelonanextinctspeciesofturtlethatwasarelativeoftheleatherbackand16ft fromflippertoflipper CarapaceLthedorsalportion(upperpart)oftheoftheturtleshell CarnivoreLananimalthatonlyeatsmeat ectothermicl coldblooded theinabilityofananimaltoregulateitsbody temperature HerbivoreLananimalthatonlyeatsvegetation PlastronLtheventralportion(lowerpart)oftheturtleshell ReptileLaclassofanimalsthatarecoldbloodedvertebratessuchassnakes,lizards, turtlesandcrocodilians SalmonellaLaninfectioncausedbyabacteriathatcanbecarriedbyallreptiles ScutesLthescalesfoundonturtleshells TerrapinLagroupofturtlesthatspendmostofitstimeinfreshwaterandpossess longnails,webbedtoes,andthinbridges TortoiseLagroupofturtlesthatlivestrictlyonlandwhichlacktoenailsandwebbed toesmakingswimmingimpossible VertebrateLagroupofanimalswhichhaveabackbone 6
RESOURCES: INTERNETRESOURCES: www.teachervision.com/ www.wikipedia.com/ www.natgeo.com/ / / BOOKSandREFERENCES: Hutchinson,Dr.Mark(2006)ReptilesandAmphibians.WeldonOwenPtyLtd Winner,Cherie(2004)EverythingReptile.NorthWordPress Seuss,Dr.(1950)YertletheTurtleandOtherStories.RandomHouse Sievert,GregandSievert,LynnetteAFieldGuidetoOklahoma samphibiansand Reptiles.OklahomaDepartmentofWildlifeConservation 7
PASSSTANDARDSMET: AlleducationprogramsandtheiraccompanyingmaterialsattheOklahomaAquarium willmeetseveraloklahomapassobjectivesinvariousdisciplines.thefollowinglistis notallinclusive. SCIENCE ScienceProcessesandInquiry (gradek)processstandard1lscienceprocessesandinquiry (grade1l3)processstandard1lobserveandmeasure (grade1l3)processstandard2lclassify (grade1l3)processstandard3lexperimentaninquiry (grade1l3)processstandard4linterpretandcommunicate PhysicalScience (gradek)standard1lphysicalscience (grade1)standard1lpropertiesofobjectsandmaterials (grade2)standard1lpropertiesandinteractionsofobjectsand Materials (grade3)standard1lpropertiesofobjectsandmaterials LifeScience (gradek)standard2llifescience (grade1)standard2lcharacteristicsandbasicneedsoforganisms (grade2)standard2llifecyclesandorganisms (grade3)standard2lcharacteristicsandbasicneedsoforganismsand Environments Earth/SpaceScience (gradek)standard3learthscience (grade1)standard3lchangesofearthandsky (grade2)standard3lpropertiesandchangesofearthandsky 8
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What are reptiles? 1.Place a check mark beside each reptile characteristic. a.have webbed feet c.have scales e.are ectotherms g.have one pair of legs i.have a three- or four-chambered heart k.breathe through their skin m.lay eggs in water b.can have clawed feet d.have moist skin f.can have two pairs of legs h.have gills throughout life j.have waterproof skin l.breathe with lungs n.lay eggs on land 2.What animals make up the largest order of reptiles? 3.What animals make up the smallest order of reptiles? 4.What characteristics do turtles and tortoises have that other reptiles do not have? 5.How do the eggs of reptiles differ from the eggs of amphibians? Skill Challenge Skills: comparing, analyzing, identifying Label the reptiles pictured below as either a sea turtle or a tortoise. Write your answers in the spaces below each diagram. Then, answer the question. 1. 2. 3.How are the reptiles above adapted to their environments? Answer Key Concepts and Challenges in Life Science, Teacher s Resources CD-ROM (c) by Pearson Education, Inc./Globe Fearon/Pearson Learning Group. All rights reserved. Animals With Backbones 11
What are reptiles? Lesson Review 1.Statements b, c, e, f, i, j, l, and n should have check marks. 2.snakes and lizards 3.tuataras 4.shells 5.The eggs of a reptile are laid on land and covered by a leathery shell to keep them from drying out. Skill Challenge 1.tortoise 2.turtle 3.Possible answers: Both turtles and tortoises can retract their heads and limbs inside their shells to guard against predators. Turtles have _at, streamlined shells and paddle-like _ns which aid them in swimming. The coloration of the turtle s and tortoise s shells help them blend in with their environment. 12
ReptileDefenseMechanisms Researchanddiscoverthetypeofdefensesusedbythefollowingreptiles. ReptilesDefensesResourcesUsed BeardedDragon American Boxturtle Chameleon GarterSnake Gilamonster Hognosesnake 13
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