turtle

There are lots of reptiles that start with the letter D all around us with scaly skin and strong shells or tough skin to keep them safe. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more learning and playing ideas.

Today we’re going to learn all about reptiles that start with the letter “D”, and we’re going to focus on a very special friend—the Desert Box Turtle!

I have loads of facts, resources, and even a cute box turtle craft at the end that you are not going to want to miss in your reptile study.

Reptiles are a group of animals that have scaly skin, are cold-blooded, and lay eggs on land.

Then look at some of these books about reptiles

BOOKS ABOUT REPTILES FOR KIDS

We prefer living books when we can find them.

Now, look at this list of reptiles.

REPTILES THAT START WITH THE LETTER D

Before we get started on box turtles here is a great list of reptiles that start with D to get you started.

• Diamondback terrapin
• Desert Iguanas
• Diamondback Rattlesnakes
• Dunai Geckos
• DeKay’s brown snake
• Desert box turtle
• Desert grassland whiptail lizard
• Desert horned lizard
• Desert iguana
• Desert kingsnake
• Desert night lizard
• Desert rosy boa
• Desert short-horned lizard
• Desert tortoise

Next, look at the other reptile resources.

 REPTILE RESOURCES

Nature Anatomy has been my go to resource for so many topics, if you want a book that can be used for many things over several years this is the one.

• 10 Amazon Rainforest Lizards Facts and How to Make A Fun Iguana
• Watch Homeschool Pop’s Reptiles For Kids video.
• Grab these reptile figures to use in sensory bins or for a science shelf.

• Free Reptiles Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning
• Celebrate Snakes | How To Make A Fake Snakeskin Snake Craft Preschool
• Grab a colorful eye-catching book like Reptiles Everywhere to have on hand.
• Check out this really cool Reptile Pattern Matching Activity I found.
• Preschoolers will love making these Awesome DIY Alligator Puppets.

EASTERN BOX TURTLE VS. DESERT BOX TURTLE

Box turtles are named this because they cannot only retreat into their shells at the first sign of danger, but also seal off their legs and head within a hinged plastron(under shell) creating formidable armor.

There are five subspecies of the common box turtle, each differing slightly in the coloring and patterning of the carapace, and having either three or four toes on each hind foot.

The Eastern Box Turtle and the Desert Box Turtle share many things in common…

• They are both reptiles- This means they have scaly skin, are cold-blooded, and lay eggs.
• They have hard shells- Their upper and lower shells connect, forming a protective “box” that lets them pull in their head, legs, and tail when danger is nearby.
• They move slowly- Box turtles aren’t fast runners — their heavy shells weigh them down — but that’s okay because their protective “box” keeps them safe.
• Both are omnivores –which means they eat a mixture of plants (like strawberries and grasses) and small creatures (like insects and worms).
• They can live a long time- Box turtles, whether they live in forests or deserts, can live 30-50 years or more in the wild — sometimes even up to 100 years with proper care.
• They are land dwellers- Some turtles love water, but box turtles and their desert relatives mainly stay on land.
• They hibernate in cold months- when it gets cold, both will find a sheltered spot and slow their body down to save energy until it warms up again.

Now let’s look at a few differences in each of these reptiles.

EASTERN BOX TURTLE

Habitat-forests, fields, meadows, near water 
Environment-humid, damp, lots of leaf litter
Shell Coloring-darker brown or black with yellow or orange patterns
Activity- more active during the day
Diet-insects, worms, strawberries, mushrooms, and plants insects, cactus fruit, grasses, small invertebrates
Protection- hard, protective “box” lets it close up safely        

DESERT BOX TURTLE

Habitat- deserts, scrublands, grasslands, drier areas
Environment- arid, sandier, less water
Shell Coloring- lighter yellowish-brown with delicate lines
Activity- more active in the early morning or late evening to avoid the daytime heat
Protection- hard “box” plus coloring that helps it blend in with sand and scrub

BOX TURTLE CRAFT

First decide which type of box turtle you would like to make, this will help you choose colors for its particular markings.

You will need:

• 2 paper bowls
• Green paint or markers
• Brown, yellow, or black paint or markers
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Tape
• Googly eyes (optional)

Turn the bowl upside-down and paint it green.

For a more realistic look, add brown or yellow patterns with a brush or marker.

Allow the bowl to dry thoroughly.

Using construction paper, cut:

• 1 small oval or circle for the head
• 4 short rectangles or ovals for the legs
• 1 small triangle for the tail

We used some scrap craft paper we had on hand.

Using tape stick the head to the rim of the bowl at the front, put it on so that you can fold the head and legs inward to “hide” 

Attach the 4 legs — 2 on each side — and the small triangle at the back for the tail.

If you have googly eyes, you can glue them on the head, or you can draw the eyes with a black marker.

Use another color of paint with a brush or a paint pen to add design to the top of the turtle shell.

Turn the bowl (shell) upside-down and put it on the other bowl to create a base for your turtle.

If you tape it on just one side like a hinge you can use this to demonstrate how the box turtle can completely close up in its shell.