Sea turtles are some of the oldest reptiles on Earth, having been around for millions of years! These amazing animals live in oceans all over the world and can survive in many different climates. There are seven different types of sea turtles, and each one looks a bit different.
The biggest sea turtle is the leatherback. It can grow up to seven feet long (about two meters) and weigh as much as 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms)! Sea turtles can live a long time, from 30 to 100 years, depending on their species.
Sea turtles look different depending on their species. For example, the green sea turtle has a wide, smooth shell that is brown to olive in color, and its skin has a greenish tint. The leatherback turtle has a special rubbery black shell, while other turtles have hard, bony shells with ridges. Sea turtles come in colors like olive green, yellow-green, brown, reddish-brown, and black. They all have four flippers that help them swim, unlike land turtles that have thick legs.
Sea turtles are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. Depending on the species, they might eat shrimp, seaweed, krill, jellyfish, mollusks, algae, and sponges.
You can find sea turtles in all the world’s oceans. For example, Kemp’s ridley turtles are often found in the Gulf of Mexico, while flatback turtles live near Australia. Leatherbacks swim in every ocean, and green sea turtles and loggerhead turtles like tropical and subtropical coastal waters.
During breeding season, sea turtles travel back to the beaches where they were born. They use the Earth’s magnetic fields to find their way, sometimes traveling over 1,400 miles (2,300 kilometers)! Female turtles lay 70 to 100 eggs in nests they dig in the sand. After laying the eggs, they cover them with sand and head back to the sea. When the eggs hatch, the baby turtles quickly make their way to the ocean to stay safe from predators and the sun.
Some sea turtles are in danger. The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is critically endangered, and the leatherback turtle is considered vulnerable. They face threats like oil spills, losing their habitats, getting caught in fishing gear by accident, and poaching.
Sea turtles are incredible creatures with special features and behaviors. Learning about their lives, where they live, and the problems they face is important for helping to protect them.
Let’s play a game to identify different species of sea turtles! I’ll show you pictures of various sea turtles, and you’ll try to match them with their names and unique features. Pay attention to their shell shapes and colors. This will help you learn to recognize each species and understand their differences.
Using a measuring tape, measure out the length of a leatherback sea turtle (seven feet) on the classroom floor. Then, compare it to your height and the height of your classmates. This will give you a sense of how large these creatures can be. Discuss how their size might help them survive in the ocean.
We’ll have a sorting challenge where you categorize different foods into what a sea turtle might eat. You’ll have cards with pictures of shrimp, seaweed, krill, jellyfish, and more. Sort them into “Sea Turtle Food” and “Not Sea Turtle Food” piles. This will help you understand their omnivorous diet.
Using a world map, trace the migration routes of different sea turtle species. Use colored markers to show where Kemp’s ridley, flatback, leatherback, green, and loggerhead turtles travel. Discuss why they migrate and how they use Earth’s magnetic fields to navigate.
Create a poster about the conservation status of sea turtles. Include information about threats they face, such as oil spills and poaching, and suggest ways we can help protect them. Share your poster with the class to raise awareness about the importance of sea turtle conservation.
Sea Turtles – Large marine reptiles that have flippers and live in the ocean, known for their long migrations and laying eggs on beaches. – Sea turtles travel thousands of miles across the ocean to return to the beaches where they were born to lay their eggs.
Species – A group of living organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. – The loggerhead turtle is a species of sea turtle that is found in oceans all over the world.
Habitat – The natural environment where an organism lives and grows. – Coral reefs provide a rich habitat for many marine animals, including sea turtles.
Diet – The kinds of food that an organism regularly eats. – The diet of a green sea turtle mainly consists of seagrasses and algae.
Migration – The seasonal movement of animals from one region to another. – Sea turtles undertake long migrations between their feeding grounds and nesting sites.
Conservation – The protection and preservation of natural resources and environments. – Conservation efforts are crucial to protect sea turtles from becoming endangered.
Eggs – The reproductive bodies laid by female animals, containing the developing embryo. – Female sea turtles lay their eggs in nests on sandy beaches, where they incubate until hatching.
Oceans – Large bodies of saltwater that cover most of the Earth’s surface and are home to diverse marine life. – Oceans provide a vast habitat for sea turtles and many other marine species.
Predators – Animals that hunt and eat other animals for food. – Sea turtle hatchlings face many predators, such as birds and crabs, as they make their way to the ocean.
Endangered – At risk of becoming extinct due to a decline in population or habitat loss. – The leatherback sea turtle is classified as endangered because of threats like poaching and habitat destruction.
