Teacher Notes
Saving Turtles
The following worksheet is based on the Marine Reptiles exhibition, located on Level 2, Queensland
Museum South Bank.
Students are presented with a scenario in which they investigate, after some preliminary research prior
to the Museum visit, the greatest threats to a sustainable turtle population. After the Museum visit they
can complete their task by collating their observations and writing a report or creating a poster or flier.
The investigation addresses the following outcomes from Essential Learnings, Year 5.
Ways of working
Students are able to
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Collect and organise data, information and evidence.
Evaluate information and evidence to support data gathered from investigations.
Select and use materials suited to the investigation.
Draw conclusions that are supported by evidence.
Communicate scientific ideas, data and findings using terminology and formats appropriate to
context and purpose.
Reflect on and identify different points of view and consider other people's values relating to
science.
Knowledge and understanding
Science as a human endeavour
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Ethics is a significant part of scientific endeavour.
Science can help to make natural, social and built environments sustainable and may influence
personal human activities.
Science can contribute to people's work and leisure.
Earth and beyond
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Changes to the surface of the Earth have identifiable causes, including human and natural
activity.
Life and living
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Living things can be grouped according to their observable characteristics.
Structures of living things have particular functions.
Reproductive processes and life cycles vary in different types of living things.
Living things have relationships with other living things and their environment.
Scenario – Calling all Scientists to help save the turtles!
Records of turtle numbers have shown that the population of adult turtles has decreased in recent years.
The Marine Park Authority is concerned by this and teams of scientists have been called in to investigate
the problem.
You are a member of the team of scientists that has been asked to find out the greatest threats to a
sustainable turtle population.
To do this you are going to observe:
1. turtles laying eggs on a beach.
2. the hatching of the turtle eggs.
3. hatchlings as they move to the water's edge.
4. hatchlings as they grow to become adults.
Your observations will record the threats to its survival at each stage of a turtle's life. The Marine Park
Authority has prepared some focus questions (Pre-visit Activity) to help with your observations.
When you have finished your observations you should discuss them with the other members of your
team and then write a report to the Marine Park Authority. Your report should include recommendations
that would help the Marine Park Authority to establish a sustainable turtle population.
Pre-visit Activity
Before making your observations you need to do some research about turtles and learn how to identify
some common turtles. In your team, research the following questions:
Note: The Queensland Museum website’s ‘Find out about’ section may be a good place to start your research. www.qm.qld.gov.au
1) Do reptiles, which include turtles, have a skeleton?
2) Reptiles are described as being cold blooded. Explain what this means.
3) Do all reptiles breathe through lungs?
4) Describe the skin covering of reptiles.
5) Most reptile species lay eggs when breeding. How do these eggs differ from the eggs of birds?
6) Did the ancestors of modern marine reptiles always live in water or were they land animals?
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During your visit to the Marine Reptile exhibition
Collecting field data
Identifying turtles
The first step in your investigation is to learn to identify different species of turtles. This can be done by
using the markings on their shells.
Observe some of the turtles in the exhibition Marine Reptiles (Level 2) and complete Table 1 by
sketching the shells of the Leatherback turtle, Flatback turtle and the Green turtle. The sketch of the
shell of the Loggerhead turtle has already been completed by another scientist.
Table 1
Loggerhead turtle
Leatherback turtle
Flatback turtle
Green turtle
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Describing their characteristics
Once you have learnt to identify different species of turtles you should gather important pieces of
information about the common species.
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Where do they live (habitat)?
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What do they eat?
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How big do they grow?
If you can’t find all information in the Marine Reptiles exhibition, follow up your information gathering
back in the classroom.
Summarise this information in Table 2.
Table 2
Name of turtle
Habitat
Common food
Size
Loggerhead turtle
Leatherback turtle
Flatback turtle
Green turtle
Egg laying on a beach
A female turtle can lay a number of clutches containing as many as 100 eggs in each clutch. The
clutches are laid over a number of days.
1) What threats exist for the female turtle in leaving the water to lay her eggs in the sand?
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2) What problems could arise if the female turtle laid her eggs in a clutch that was;
a) too deep?
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b) too shallow?
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c) too far from the water?
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d) too close to the water?
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3) What problems could arise if the temperature of the sand in which the eggs have been laid, is
a) 25oC or less?
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b) more than 33oC?
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Hatching of the eggs
After the incubation period the hatchlings break out of their shell and dig their way to the surface.
1) Observe the display of hatchlings emerging from a clutch. If each hatchling is about 5cm in length,
estimate the depth of the clutch.
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2) Do most hatchlings in a clutch break out of their shells at the same time or one-at-a time over a
number of days? How does this help their survival?
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3) Do hatchlings break out of their shells during the day or at night? How does this help their survival?
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Fleeing to the water
The short journey from the clutch across the sand to the ocean water can be a very dangerous stage in
the life of a young turtle.
1)
Find and list some of the natural predators that eat hatchlings during their journey across the sand.
a) ............................................................................................................................
b) ............................................................................................................................
c) ............................................................................................................................
d) ............................................................................................................................
e) ............................................................................................................................
2) Why are hatchlings able to move faster in water than on sand? Draw a hatchling and describe the
features that help it move faster in water.
Table 3
Drawing of Hatchling
Features that help a hatchling move through water.
3) Would more hatchlings survive their first journey if they were already in water when they hatched
from their shells? Explain your answer.
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Safe in the ocean
Once the hatchlings reach the water they are safe! Or are they?
1) List some of the natural predators that eat hatchlings after they reach the safety of the ocean.
Describe or draw some of the features that help make this animal an effective predator.
Table 4
Predators
Describe or draw the features that help this animal
to be an effective predator?
Adult turtles
1) Even adult turtles can be eaten by natural predators. These may be the same predators that eat
hatchlings (see Table 4 above) or different predators. List predators in the correct columns in Table
5.
Predators that eat hatchlings
only.
Predators that eat both hatchlings
and adult turtles.
Predators that eat adult turtles
only.
2) When are adult turtles in most danger?
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3) What is the main defence of adult turtles against natural predators?
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Human impact on turtle populations
Explain why people have killed turtles throughout history.
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Describe some other human activities that have affected turtle populations.
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Are natural predators a greater threat to a sustainable turtle population or are humans? What do you
think and give some reasons.
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Post-Visit Activity
Collate your data
Compile a table that summarises your data collection.
Threats to survival
Turtle life stage
Egg laying
Hatching of eggs
Fleeing to the
water
Growing up in the
ocean
Life as adults
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Animals
Humans
Conditions
Conclusions
The Marine Park Authority is considering declaring a protection zone around the egg laying areas for
green turtles. Write a report to the Marine Park Authority that covers the two questions below. You may
wish to add images or charts to support your report.
1. From your research data would you recommend this action to help improve turtle populations?
2. What other recommendations could you make to the Marine Park Authority so that it can
establish a sustainable turtle population?
Optional extra:
Create a poster or flier for visitors to the Marine Park to educate them so that they help protect the
turtles.
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