I have some fun leatherback turtle life cycle facts. Also, look at my free Homeschool Unit Study Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook for more ideas.
For a child that loves to study marine biology leatherback turtles are one of the most amazing creatures to dive into.
To take our learning of leatherback turtles to the next level we are going to make a paper mache model.
And we’re using simple household items like toilet tissue and aluminum foil.
This simple paper mache pulp is very easy to work with and dries quickly.
But of course, before we get into that I have loads of wonderful information and facts for you about these beautiful creatures.
Leatherback turtles are the largest turtles in the world, and they are also one of the most fascinating creatures on Earth.
They are found in all oceans and they are known for their long migrations and their unique appearance.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES ABOUT SEA TURTLES FOR KIDS
First, look at these books to go along with your study.
10 Sea Turtle Resources
Add some books about sea turtles and hands-on resources to your lesson or unit study to bring it to life.
Sea turtles are fascinating. Hatched from eggs smaller than a baseball, some can grow to weigh over a thousand pounds. Once adults, they can live to be around 100 years old. And when it's time to nest, they migrate more than 1,000 miles. With colorful, clear illustrations and straightforward text, Gail Gibbons introduces the eight kinds of sea turtles living in the ocean today. Learn the similarities and differences with labeled diagrams and experience the hatching of the tiny turtle babies with detailed illustrations. This updated edition now includes the most up-to-date information about these beloved reptiles, as reviewed by an expert vetter in the field of herpetology.
Celebrating the love between mother and child comes an achingly beautiful story that has captured hearts around the world. Written by a new mom, by accident, when she sang a little song to her fussing newborn, I'll Follow the Moon proudly donates proceeds to charity: every book saves a turtle.
Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages.
Who could resist celebrating sea turtles? They may seem like lazy ocean reptiles drifting with the oceans’ currents, but they are actually long-distance swimmers that spend their entire lives searching for food and a mate. What’s more, they come with their own built-in GPS, returning to the exact beach where they were born to lay their own eggs. Kids will learn all about these tranquil and mysterious animals through brilliant photography and illustrations, plus the trusted and distinctive content you love from NG Kids!
A book that tells how turtles survive with the help of protection programs.
The book's pithy, well-organized sections are lavishly illustrated. It is a guide for anyone who is the least bit curious about these fascinating marine animals. Bite-sized installments harmonize with multiple images on each page to make this book a unique and entertaining resource. The story it tells covers understanding, experiencing, and saving our sea turtles, with descriptions of how these endangered animals contribute to our happiness and why they deserve a helping hand.
The mother turtle has a vital job to do: dig a nest in which she will lay eggs that will hatch into part of the next generation of leatherbacks. With only one in a thousand of the eggs for this critically endangered species resulting in an adult sea turtle, the odds are stacked against her and her offspring.
Children can see how animals change and grow. Realistic detail showing a different stage in the development of animals.
Uniquely molded textures and richly painted details bring them to life and help inspire creativity for kids.
It is a great way to expand the growth with children through physical science.
A triumphant story of environmental activism, community, and friendship: Acclaimed activist Philippe Cousteau and renowned author Deborah Hopkinson team up to offer a story of the powerful difference young people can make in the world. Meet Viv, who has a new home and a new school by the sea and follow her as she finds her way in a new place and helps bring together a whole community to save the sea turtles of the South Carolina coast.
Describes the life cycle of sea turtles discussing reproduction, birth, and adult life.
Next, look at these facts about the leatherback turtle.
LEATHERBACK TURTLE FACTS
First, add some leatherback turtle life cycle.
Life Cycle
Leatherback turtles have a long and complex life cycle. They are born on beaches, and they spend their first few years in the ocean. As they grow, they migrate to warmer waters, where they feed and mate. Leatherback turtles can live for up to 100 years!
Food Sources
Leatherback turtles are carnivores, eating a variety of prey, including jellyfish, fish, and squid. They have long, pointed jaws that are perfect for catching their prey.
Migration
Leatherback turtles are found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They nest on sandy beaches in the same range.
They are known for their long migrations, traveling up to 10,000 miles in a single year to find warmer waters to feed and mate. Nesting in the United States usually occurs in Florida, Puerto Rico and St. Croix.
Temperature Regulation
Leatherback turtles are unique in the turtle world because of their ability to regulate their body temperature internally. Other types of sea turtles rely on external heat sources to warm their bodies.
First, they have a thick layer of blubber that insulates them from the cold.
Second, they have a network of blood vessels that run close to the surface of their skin.
This network of blood vessels allows the turtles to exchange heat with the surrounding water.
When a leatherback turtle is in cold water, it will reduce the flow of blood to its skin. This helps to keep the turtle’s body temperature from dropping too low. When a leatherback turtle is in warm water, it will increase the flow of blood to its skin. This helps to keep the turtle’s body temperature from getting too high.
Because of these adaptations they are able to live in colder waters and dive deeper than other types of sea turtles.
Finally, another thing that is really cool about Leatherback Sea Turtles is that they have a pink spot located on the top of the turtle’s head, between the eyes that plays an important role.
The parietal scale plays a role in several sensory functions like:
Temperature regulation: The parietal scale may help the turtle to regulate its body temperature by detecting changes in the surrounding environment.
Osmoregulation: The parietal scale may also help the turtle to regulate its salt and water balance by detecting changes in the salinity of the water.
Navigation: The parietal scale is used by the turtle to navigate its way through the ocean by detecting changes in the Earth’s magnetic field.
MORE SEA TURTLE ACTIVITIES
- Fun Homeschool Unit Study Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook
- Fun and Easy Mosaic Art Sea Turtle Activity For Kids
- Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity
- Cutest Ever Egg Carton Sea Turtle Craft and Learning Activities for Kids
- Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity
Finally, look at how to make this paper mache leatherback sea turtle.
PAPER MACHE LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE
First, gather these supplies.
You will need:
- craft paints and paint brushes
- new line aluminum foil
- toilet paper or paper towels
- masking tape
- Water
- a large bowl
- a strainer
Begin by tearing toilet paper or paper towels into smaller pieces and place them in a large bowl.
Pour enough water to soak it. Mix. Be sure everything is well combined.
Transfer pulp mixture to a strainer and allow a lot of the water to drain off. But, you want it to be very wet and pulpy. Don’t let it drain too much.
You want to be able to work with it and move it around.
While your pulp is draining you can begin to build the armature for your leatherback turtle.
To do this I use a combination of balled up aluminum foil with toilet paper or paper towels inside to give it some bulk, you can then easily squeeze the aluminum foil to create the shapes that you want.
Form the head and the flippers separately and then attach them to the body with duct tape.
When you’re satisfied with the general shape and design of your leather back begin adding a thick layer of pulp mixture all over the top sides and bottom.
Squeezing it as you go to form the shape as well as to remove some of the excess moisture.
Set aside to dry, a nice sunny spot outdoors is best, it may take up to 2 days to dry thoroughly.
Once it is completely dry you can begin painting.
We mixed a combination of greens and black to get the dark leatherback color and coated it all over, adding another layer once dry if needed.
Allow the paint to dry completely.
Add the details like the ridges down the shell, the white dots, eyes, and the pink spot that appears on the crown of the head.
Set aside and allow the details to dry.
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