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Wondrous Reptiles

Special Education

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Program Description and Frameworks
Program Outline
Key Terms and Concepts
Classroom Activities
Print and Web Resources
Go to Aquarium: Reptiles Gallery Page

Click here for printable version of all resources listed above

Visit the Aquarium and discover reptiles from around the world. Learn about the special characteristics that make reptiles different from other animals. Enjoy hands-on experiences with live animals such as turtles, lizards, and snakes.

Location: Aquarium
Length: 45 minutes - 1 hour
Grade: Special Ed, all grades

Massachusetts Frameworks
Science and Technology/Engineering Strand 2; Standard 1, 2, 3, 6, 8

Science and Technology/Engineering Strand 3; Standard 3

New York Standards
Standard 4 Science The Living Environment 1, 3, 5, 6

Session I

Introduction to Reptiles
Students are introduced to the characteristics of reptiles and the five different reptilian groups: turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodilians (crocodiles and alligators), and tuataras.

Characteristics of Turtles
Through hands-on discussion students will learn about the characteristics that make turtles unique. Students will also learn to distinguish between turtles, tortoises and terrapins.

Live Turtle and Tortoise Demonstration
Students will get a chance to observe a turtle and tortoise, and then handle or touch them if the students are comfortable doing so.

Closing
Students will review what they learned in this session. Students will also discover which species of reptiles they will be meeting in the next session.

Session II

Review of Reptile Characteristics
Students will review the characteristics of reptiles and the five different reptilian groups: turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodilians, and tuataras.

Characteristics of Lizards
Through hands on discussion students will learn how lizards are unique.

Live Lizard Demonstrations
Students will observe three or more live lizards, representing different lizard species. Animals may include a leopard gecko, blue-tongued skink, a chameleon, or a pre-hensile tailed skink. Students will have the opportunity to touch these animals if the students are comfortable doing so.

Session III

Review of Reptile Characteristics
Students will review the characteristics of reptiles and the five different reptilian groups: turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodilians, and tuataras.

Characteristics of Snakes
Through hands on discussion, students will learn how snakes are unique.

Live Snake Demonstration
Students will observe live snakes and touch them if they are comfortable doing so.

Movement or Adaptation Activity
Depending on the appropriateness of the activity, the students may either create a movement piece together by using actions to represent the movement of each reptile in the aquarium. –OR- Students may complete a look and see activity where students search for adaptations within the aquarium that match up with given examples.

Note: Concepts covered will vary to meet the needs of each group. To ensure that your educator is aware of your group's specific needs, please fill out a pre-visit questionnaire before your visit.

• The 5 major groups of reptiles include turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodilians, and tuataras.
• Reptiles are ectotherms, meaning they use outside sources such as shade or the sun to control their body temperatures. Reptile young are smaller versions of their parents. Reptiles have dry, scaly skin, which they shed as they grow. There are three types of turtles: turtles, terrapins, and tortoises. (Depending on the age of the group, this program may cover only turtles and tortoises.) Turtles usually have webbed feet and live in the water. Tortoises do not have webbed feet and live on land. Terrapins live in brackish water (salt and fresh water mixed together).
• Reptiles have unique ways of protecting themselves; for example, some lizards can lose their tails, chameleons are well-camouflaged, and turtles have hard shells.
• Reptiles can be found in many different parts of the world. Many reptiles do not hear as we do, but instead sense vibrations from the ground.
• Many reptiles are able to smell and taste with their tongues, through a special organ located in the roofs of their mouths called a Jacobson’s organ.

Key Terms Used During the Program
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Note: Key terms will vary to meet the needs of each group. To ensure that your educator is aware of your groups specific needs please fill out a pre-visit questionnaire before your visit.

• Amphibian
  an ectothermic, smooth-skinned animal with a backbone (a vertebrate), which usually hatches as an aquatic larva with gills and then transforms into an adult with lungs.
• Basking
  to lie in the sun for warmth which also helps to remove mites and algae from the body.
• Carnivore
  an animal that eats meat.
• Herbivore
  an animal that eats plants.
• Jacobson’s organ
  the organ found at the roof of the mouth in some animals, like snakes, that relays tasted particles in the air to the brain.
• Mite
  a very small arachnid that is mainly parasitic to animals and plants (lives and feeds on them); it is related to spiders and ticks.
• Omnivore
  an animal that eats both plants and meat.
• Oviparous
  most reptiles reproduce by laying eggs that hatch externally.
• Ovoviviparous birth
  some reptiles hold their eggs and hatch them internally and then baby reptiles are birthed from the mother.
• Prehensile tail
  a tail that can grasp, hold, or wrap around an object, such as a branch.
• Reptile
  an animal with a backbone (a vertebrate) that is ectothermic, has scales, breathes air using lungs; most lay eggs.
• Scutes
  the shedded pieces of a turtle’s shell.
• Shedding
  when an animal loses either its scales, skin, or fur, allowing for new growth.
• Webbed feet
  feet that have skin between each toe that improves the animal’s ability to swim in water.

Activities: Skill/Grade Level PreK - 2

Viewing the Wild in Your Classroom
Students will enjoy the experience of watching a live animal over the web to see how it moves, eats, and interacts with its habitat. Click here for complete directions. The following lesson was taken from Living Landscapes: Teaching in Nature an Interdisciplinary Curriculum Guide . The Museum has limited copies of Living Landscapes that can be provided free of charge. If you are interested, email us at education@berkshiremuseum.org.

Camouflage!
Working in groups, ask the children to select two pieces of identical wallpaper. Have each child cut several shapes from one sheet and paste them onto the other sheet. These should be presented to the class when finished. From a distance, can the class identify how many shapes are pasted on? Which pattern group was most successful in hiding? Why? This will encourage students to look for patterns in nature that help animals to blend in with their surroundings.

Activities: Skill/Grade Level 3 - 5

Egyptian Snake Game
Using this ancient Egyptian snake game board, students will enjoy playing a game based on snake facts and their own knowledge of reptiles. Click here for complete directions.

Activities: Skill/Grade Level 6 - 12

Turtle Tracking
Students can track the movement of a sea turtle by plotting data received from a tagged turtle. Click here for complete directions.

Use the Berkshire Athenaeum’s on-line catalogue to search for these print resources in Central/Western Massachusetts.

Print Materials for Students

Grades Pre K - 5

Cannon, Janell. Verdi. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997. Verdi the snake does not want to grow up to be big, green and boring. But will Verdi get into trouble for refusing to become green?

Greer, Allan. Reptiles. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003. This book includes interesting facts about reptiles, drawings, vivid photographs, and even a fold-out diorama.

Lionni, Leo. A Color of His Own. New York: Random House, 2000. Learn about colors and patterns as this chameleon searches for a color of his own.

Palotta, Jerry. The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book. Watertown, MA: Charles bridge Publishing Inc., 1989. Learn the names of reptiles that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Illustrated with bright colored pictures of each reptile.

Parker, Steve. See-Through Reptiles. Philadelphia, PA: Running Press Cook Publishers, 2004. The see-through pages of this book allow students to learn about reptiles in a completely unique and exciting way.

Watt, Me’lanie. Leon the Chameleon. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2001. Leon the chameleon has a problem; he always changes to be the opposite color of all the other chameleons. He feels lonely because he is different, but soon this changes when he saves the day.

Grades 6 - 8

Greer, Allan. Reptiles. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003. This book includes interesting facts about reptiles, drawings, photographs and even a fold-out diorama.

Hammerslouch, Jane and Jeff Corwin. Snakes! Face to Face. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 2003. Follow television's Animal Planet adventurer Jeff as he encounters all kinds of snakes.

McCarthy, Colin, Karl Shone and Jane Burton. Eyewitness: Reptiles. New York: DK Publishing, 2002. Vivid pictures and corresponding text help students learn about reptiles and how they compare to each other.

Parker, Steve and Rod Ferring. See-Through Reptiles. Philedelphia: Running Press Cook Publishers, 2004. The see-through pages of this book allow students to learn about reptiles in a completely unique and exciting way.

Spilsbury, Louise A. and Richard Spilsbury. Classifying Reptiles. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2003. This book helps students learn what makes a reptile a reptile. An excellent resource for older middle school students.

Stewart, Melissa. Reptiles (True Books Animals Series). New York: Scholastic Library Publishing, 2001. This book is a good introduction to the main groups of reptiles and is designed to be easily read and understood by students. The glossary of terms and chapter format make it an excellent book for middle school children.

Unwin, Mike. Life Cycle of Reptiles. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2003. Covers everything from reptile eating habits to reproduction.

Grades 9 - 12

McCarthy, Colin. Eyewitness: Reptile. 1991. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 2000. Learn about reptiles through wonderful pictures and great facts. A good book for teachers as well.

Peissel, Mishel and Missy Allen. Dangerous Reptilian Creatures. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1992. Introduces students to some of the most interesting reptiles in the world.

Thomas, Peggy. Reptile Rescue. Brookfield, CT: 21 st Century Books, 2000. Teaches students about the importance of reptile conservation and discusses current methods scientists are using to monitor and stabilize reptile populations.

Print Materials For Educators

Burton , Dr. Maurice and Robert. Encyclopedia of Reptiles, Amphibians & Other Cold-Blooded Animals. Spain: BPC Publishing Ltd., 1984. Includes information about particular species as well as information about amphibian and reptile evolution.

King, F. Wayne. The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. Includes information about anatomy, habitats, life cycles, movement, and defense to help the reader identify more than 160 of the most fascinating herpetological species from North America.

Tyning, Thomas F. Stokes Nature Guides: A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles. Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 1990. An introduction to the similarities and differences beteen amphibians and reptiles. Includes information about local species such as characteristics, breeding, feeding, and other interesting facts.

Zug, George R., Laurie J. Vitt, Janalee P. Caldwell. Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. 1993. San Diego: Academic Press, 2001. This book features information about evolution and morphology, reproduction, physiological ecology, behavior, population, and taxonomy.

Web Materials for Students

American Museum of Natural History
Activities for all ages that students can either do individually or together as a group. Also includes printable, informative articles. A good resource for educators as well.

National Geographic
A great site for students who would like to learn more about specific animals. Includes fun facts, maps, video and audio clips.

National Wildlife Foundation’s Kidzone
Categories for various age groups from ages 1 and up. Includes games, activities, book reviews, coloring pages, recipes, and lots more. A great resource for parents and educators as well.

Web Materials for Educators

eNature.com
This site has many useful tools for studying the native wildlife in your area. Some features include lists of endangered species in each state, field guides with clear images and specific information about each species, and zip code guides that provide identifying images and information about the organisms that live in your neighborhood. Guides are available for reptiles and amphibians, as well as mammals, birds, plants, trees, butterflies, insects, sea shore life, fish, and more.

MassWildlife's State Reptiles and Amphibians List
A list of the reptiles and amphibians that live in Massachusetts including species that are endangered, threatened, and are considered special concerns. Also includes a large reptile bibliography.

Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Includes fact sheets and articles pertaining to individual species, conservation, and nutrition.

The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web
This siteincludes pictures of reptiles, specimens, skulls, sounds, classification, and information about the animals.

National Geographic
A great website for educators to keep up-to-date on news stories, conservation, and information about animals from around the world. Also includes a U.S. Local Wildlife Guide, crittercam, and an area for related links.

National Wildlife Foundation
Site includes NWF resources and program plans, which include background knowledge for activities, and planning materials for integrating conservation lessons into science, math, language arts, and art classes. Also includes online activities and a store for educators.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent Federal grant- making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities supports the Berkshire Museum.

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