Turtles are terrific

This lesson will engage the students in the study of turtle attributes and their habitats. The lesson will integrate science, math, language arts and computer/technology curriculums.

A lesson plan for grade 1 English Language Arts and Science

Learn more

• Turtle Parts basic guide to turtle body parts
• Painted Turtle Printout cutout which can be used in the lesson

Related pages

• New River State Park: Visit New River State Park and discover its unspoiled beauty as well as the flora and fauna of the area.
• Catawba Science Center: Students will enjoy visiting the Catawba Science Center, a hands-on museum, where learning is fun!
• Snakes are cool: This lesson begins with a reading of Verdi by Janell Cannon. It integrates science with language arts as the students learn about snakes and write about their findings.

Related topics

• Learn more about North Carolina, animals, biology, language arts, read-alouds, reptiles, science, similarities and differences, turtles, and vocabulary.

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

Learning outcomes

Students will:

• Engage their listening skills making connections through literature and expository texts.
• Use the appropriate vocabulary to describe the attributes and habitats of turtles.
• Compare and contrast the turtle to another animal such as a rabbit.
• Explore and investigate turtles on the internet.
• Utilize KidPix to draw and label a turtle.
• Create a model of a turtle using various art materials.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

5 days

Materials/resources

• The Tortoise and the Hare, an Aesop Fable
• Now I Know Turtles by Janet Craig
• Wonders of the Pond by Francene Sabin
• Various materials such as Weekly Reader, which emphasis turtle attributes and habitats.
• Paper-plates, pattern worksheets for turtle body parts (include: head, shell, and bottom body part with legs).

Technology resources

• internet access
• KidPix

Pre-activities

The students will stimulate their background knowledge by listening to the Aesop Fable, The Tortoise and the Hare. As story is being read, compare and contrast attributes of the tortoise and the hare.

Activities

1. After reading The Tortoise and the Hare, encourage the students to describe differences and similarities between a turtle and a rabbit, then make a chart of these attributes.
2. Next read, Now I Know Turtles and Wonders of the Pond (or an expository book about turtles). When finished, discuss turtles. Include vocabulary:
   • head (mouth or beak)
   • shell
   • types of feet (ex. webbed or claws)
   • habitats
   • turtles hatch from eggs
   • needs of turtles (food)
   • predator and prey
3. Students can make a model of a turtle using two paper-plates stapled together. Create a picture of turtle body parts to glue to the paper-plates. Include the head, shell, and bottom with four legs and a tail.
4. Students can use KidPix to draw and label a turtle. They can expand their picture by typing a sentence about the turtle. The teacher will incorporate the students’ drawings into a class slide show.
5. Expose the students to various web sites for turtles that are suggested below.

Extension Activity: Use the North Carolina Plant and Animal PowerPoint presentation prepared by Alta Allen.

Assessment

To assess, use the North Carolina Math Performance Task Assessment 3.01, Attribute Sort. Use the Turtle test to assess content knowledge of turtles.

To assess Computer/Technology Goal one the teacher will monitor and observe students’ using suggested Internet sites. To assess Goal two print KidPix pictures designed by the students, check to see if student successfully used the drawing and typing tools.

Supplemental information

North Carolina Plants and Animals PowerPoint presentation