Wood turtle on a rock
Grade 3
Wood turtle numbers have been decreasing over time. Zoo biologists and scientists are trying to help restore the declining turtle population by raising turtle hatchlings before releasing them into the wild. This lesson explores the life cycle of a turtle and the reason why it’s important to maintain wood turtle conservation efforts.
Teacher's Guide and Related Standards
Students can describe the life cycle of a turtle and explain the conservation efforts used to help restore wood turtle numbers.
Turtle Life Cycle Model
View the Turtle Life Cycle Model with students. Have them label where they think these five stages of a life cycle should go:
The Frog Life Cycle
Have students complete the cut-and-paste activity on frog life cycles. Have students compare this life cycle to that of turtles and other animals. What do they all have in common? What’s different about them?
Different Life Cycles
Have students observe the life cycles of other animals and compare their life cycles to that of turtles and each other. What patterns do students notice? What do they all have in common? What’s different about them?
This learning resource is a production of Maryland Public Television/Thinkport.