hands-on

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.

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.