Grade Level: Pre K – 1st
Duration: 45 min-1 hour
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
 SC.K.L.14.3; SC.K.L.14.1; SC.K.N.1.4
 SC.1.L. 14.1; SC.1.L.14.3; SC.1.L.17.1; SC.1.N.1.1
Program Overview: Uncover hidden adaptations found in
Florida’s reptiles, and their place in our environment.
Learn what the Conservancy has discovered through our
field conservation and biological work on sea turtles,
alligators and more.
Vocabulary
Reptile
Characteristic
Habitat
Scales
Objective: Students will be able to distinguish characteristics of a reptile and become
familiar with the four main types of reptiles found in Florida.
Pre-Program Activity 1: What is a Reptile?
Ask students if they can name the four main types of reptiles in Florida:
Lizards, Alligators (and Crocodiles), Snakes, Turtles
Ask students if they can think of any examples of reptiles (sea turtle, python, etc.).
Reptiles are a unique group of animals. How are reptiles different from us, or from other
animals? http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/images/classification/reptile1.gif
1) they have dry, scaly skin or scales
3) breathe air (have lungs)
2) lay eggs
4) cold-blooded
Click on the link below to take you to a student worksheet depicting examples of reptiles
and mammals. Print out the worksheets and have students separate the animal pictures
into 2 groups (reptiles and mammals) and paste into the matching box. You will need a
class set of glue and scissors.
Worksheet: http://www.tlsbooks.com/mammalsandreptilescutandpaste.html
(more lessons on next page)
Pre-Program Activity 2: Identifying Reptiles
While seated at their desks, show students the following pictures of animals. If they think
the animal is a reptile, have them stand up. If they don’t, stay seated. If it is indeed a
reptile, have students name one characteristic that makes it a reptile (dry/scaly skin, lays
eggs, breathes air with lungs, cold-blooded). If it is not a reptile, ask the students what
group of animals does it belong to? What clues did students use to determine their
answer?
Post-Program Activity 1: Measuring Reptiles
Materials: measuring tape (multiples, if possible), roll of masking tape, markers
Activity: Review the four main types of reptiles that are found in Florida: lizards,
alligators, snakes, turtles. See if students can guess how big these animals can get (in
Florida), then demonstrate how big that actually is!
1) As a class, call on volunteers to hold each end of the measuring tape to demonstrate
the lengths of the following reptiles. Record on worksheets found below.
2) Have students work with a partner to measure their own height. Record on
worksheet.
Lizard: 3 inches – 6 feet
Alligator: 14 feet (crocodile: 18-20 feet)
Sea turtle: 5 feet
Snake (Burmese python): 20 feet
Freshwater turtle: ~12 inches
How big can reptiles grow?
Name: _____________________________
My height: _______________
Lizards: ________________
Alligators: ________________
Snakes: ________________
Sea turtles: ________________
Freshwater turtles: ________________
Draw each animal below:
Post-Program Activity 2: Species Inventory
Have students take an inventory of the pictured reptiles on the worksheet below.
Scientists do this out in the field with live animals. See if students can count how many
lizards, alligators, snakes and turtles there are. Answers can be found at the end of the
document.
Follow-up questions:
You learned about reptiles at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
1) What are the four main types of reptiles that live in Florida? (lizards,
alligators/crocodiles, snakes, turtles)
2) What are some of the characteristics of reptiles? (dry/scaly skin, lay eggs, breathe
air with lungs, have no hair, are cold-blooded, etc.)
3) Have you seen any of these animals out in nature? Where?
How Many Reptiles can you Count?
Name ___________________________
How many LIZARDS?
How many ALLIGATORS?
How many SNAKES?
How many TURTLES?
Answer Key:
Lizards: 3
Alligators: 4
Snakes: 3
Turtles: 4
Non-reptiles: 2 (crab, hawk)