Doing a presentation, need advice

[Jentortmom]

So my sons fourth grade class is studying animals in two weeks and his teacher wants me to bring in some of my turts and torts to show the class and talk about them.

I am for sure bringing in some boxies, one of my female russians, and I thought about some of the RES, and the baby sulcata (we will see about him).

I was wondering if anyone had any good stuff for fourth grade they could pass on.

Also does anyone know where I could find some really cool pictures of turtles and tortoises??

Thanks in advance.

 

[Coldliz]

I don't have anything..I'm just a newbie to this tort thing. But if you google tortoise pics or turtle pics you can get a lot of good pictures.

Good luck!

 

[Josh]

it might be a good idea to try to teach them about the differences between tortoises, turtles, and terrapins. seems like a lot of folks have misconceptions about this topic or just dont know the difference at all! its also a question i get asked a lot from non-reptile keepers

 

[jlyoncc1]

I would involve geography in there. I was talking to my sons teacher about the same thing and she said it would be neat to see where each type of tort originated. Plus you could give them a little "if you see a turtle in the wild" conservation talk.

 

[Jacqui]

Be sure to take along things for hand clean up and stress why hands need to be washed. Wish I were home, instead of on the road right now. I have a box in storage that has some pictures I used when giving talks.

 

[Crazy1]

This is probably the best site it gives you an outline for a presentation rather in-depth but you can break it down.
http://hegel.lewiscenter.org/users/mhuffine/subprojects/Mojave Natives/tort_in_class.htm

Coloring pages
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals/cp_reptile/cp_tortoise.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/reptiles/printouts.shtml
Info including some map with a few of the turtles

http://www.fastq.com/~jbpratt/education/theme/animals/reptile.html#onlinetortoiseactivities
This one lists activities for children

http://www.coloring.ws/animals2.htm
has a Galapagos Tortoise even shows skeleton


Tortoise anatomy
http://www.turtlestuff.com/turtleanatomy.html

http://scientific-art.com/portfolio vetmed pages/tortanat.htm

Shell diseases
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=17&cat=1797&articleid=2700


Lots of different info on torts including law and maping
http://www.species.net/Reptiles/Tort/Tort.html


General care, diets and habitats
http://www.theturtleranch.com/general.htm


Animal Planet :: Reptile Guide :: Turtles, Tortoises & Terrapins
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/reptiles/turtles/anatomy.html

Remember you are the expert here and they all want to hear what you have to tell them about your animals.
You might even want to print out some of the pics from this site of different torts and let them know about this forum and why they exist. just a thought--
Good luck

 

[Jentortmom]

Thanks so much for this info, I didn't even see that people responded.. Ooops my bad. Well my presentation is next Friday. I am going to talk about the different boxies, then russians, sulcatas, RES and I am going to show the different feet of each. I am also going to talk about the DT, I have been collecting pictures of different turtles and tortoises, but if anyone has a good one let me know. I am also going to give a conservation talk, and explain different parts of the tortoise. Then I may do coloring sheets for my younger son's class. I am also going to do some geography, show where different turtles and tortoises come from.

 

[Yvonne G]

Jen: Don't forget to bring paper towells to clean up any "accidents" the animals have. This just thrills the kids, but is a little embarrassing for you!!

Yvonne

 

[Jentortmom]

Thanks Yvonne, luckly we will be outside..

 

[Crazy1]

Jen sounds like your presentations will be a hit. Keep us posted on how it goes.

 

[Jentortmom]

Thank you Robyn for all of your help!!! So I went on a field trip today (kinda) I call the phoenix herpalogical society, they do everything for the game and fish plus other stuff. Anyways I called and the guy (can't remember his name) and asked him if he had any eggs or other cool things that I could borrow for my presentation tomorrow. I got there at 6:30pm I did not leave until 8:15pm. He was so nice he showed my kids all of the lizards, snakes, alligators, crocodiles, camens, sulcatas, leos, DTs, RES, wallabees, Ally snappers, snappers. My kids and I had so much fun roaming in the dark looking at everything. Besides the snakes the kids loved the fact they got to sit and watch a sulcata lay eggs. Anyways long story short, I went for a unfertile egg and came home with an egg, lizard & snake eggs, and a RES shell. I think he felt bad he didn't have more. Anyways if you are in Phx you should check them out.

 

[Josh]

how fortuitous that you post this now.
first, that sounds like an awesome visit. those props will make great additions to your presentation.
secondly, i'm going to be visiting phoenix soon and i was just thinking today about how i could help promote this site out there. maybe i'll get some stickers printed up or something for when i visit the Phoenix Herp Society! thanks for the idea!

 

[Jentortmom]

Yes I was very lucky, If you make up stickers I want one!! When are you coming to phoenix?? When you go to phx herp soc I think you half to have an appointment. just an fyi.

 

[Josh]

ill be in phoenix for the LA Angels spring training
from march 21st to 23rd

 

[Jentortmom]

Not very long to enjoy the sun

Did presentation today, Weatherman lied, blankets and heat sources got cold...horrible.. Anyways the fourth grade loved it, the kindergarten loved it and the teachers learned something. I am so tired running in and out trying to grab different ones to try and keep them warm. We all end up getting cold. We all came home and soaked in warm water, they soaked for a long time, no desire to move. But they learned something, and I scared one girl and she started to cry, she wanted to go home and get her turtle so the dogs wouldn't get him, so I talked to her and then she was happy. Over all it went well and I ran out of time both times.

 

[Crazy1]

I know you knew your stuff ,were prepared, and would do just fine. Sounds like you had as much fun as the kids did. Congratulation.

 

[Jentortmom]

I did, but I was worried about the torts, they were cold.

 

[Yvonne G]

I did, but I was worried about the torts, they were cold.

We should have reminded you to bring clamp-on lights. They have electrical outlets in the classrooms and you can clamp on the lights on each container to keep the turtles warm.

Something to think of for the next time!

Yvonne