Painted Turtle

Keep Your Turtle Thermal!

There is a great activity in the National Wildlife Federation's Naturescope series called Hot 'n' Cool Herps. It will help students realize the great effect basking can have on the metabolism of a Painted Turtle.

In the activity, students try to keep the temperature of their "turtle" within a specified range on a sunny day outdoors.

To introduce the activity, teachers describe the difference between hot-blooded (ie. mammals - body temperature is kept constant) and cold-blooded (ie. reptiles and amphibians - body temperature varies according to the animal's environment.) Next students take their "turtle" thermometers and a paper listing their assigned temperature range outdoors. Their challenge is to first get their turtle's temperature with-in range, and then to keep it there for about 10 minutes. They will need to be creative as to where they put their turtle, and be willing to move to find a way to cool off or warm up as their temperature changes.

To prepare for the activity, teachers need to gather enough thermometers for one per team, and to define temperature ranges appropriate for the outdoor activity. This can be done by first defining the area students will use (a mixture of sun and shade is best,) then finding the high point in the range in a sunny spot and the low in a shady spot, or even under leaves and duff. Divide the range between the high and low into 5 degree "turtle ranges" and assign one to each group.

Back in the classroom, relate the activity to the behavior of basking in turtles. Snakes, lizards, frogs, toads, and salamanders exhibit the same temperature-regulating behaviors. Each species will have its own preferred temperature range. Why might toads hide under rocks? Why would a snake rest in the middle of a trail?

A full version of the lesson and the 68-page activity guide can be ordered by following the link below.