Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to create various reptile-themed crafts and learn interesting facts about reptiles.

Materials and Prep

• Construction paper (various colors)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers or crayons
• Googly eyes
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Reptile reference books or online resources

Before starting the lesson, familiarize yourself with different types of reptiles by looking at pictures or reading about them.

Activities

• Create a Paper Plate Turtle: Cut out a large circle from a paper plate. Decorate it with green construction paper, adding legs, a head, and a tail. Use googly eyes or draw eyes on the turtle's face.
• Design a Snake Bookmark: Cut a long, thin strip of construction paper. Decorate it with snake patterns using markers or crayons. Add a snake's head to one end and a tail to the other.
• Make a Lizard Handprint: Trace your hand on a piece of construction paper. Cut it out and decorate it to resemble a lizard. Add details like scales and eyes.
• Construct a Chameleon Collage: Cut out different shapes and sizes of colored paper. Arrange and glue them together to create a chameleon. Use markers to draw eyes and other details on the collage.

Talking Points

• Reptiles are cold-blooded animals, which means their body temperature changes with the temperature of their surroundings. This helps them conserve energy.
• Some reptiles, like turtles and tortoises, have a protective shell that they can retract into for safety.
• Snakes are reptiles that lack legs but move by slithering on their bellies. They use their tongues to smell and flicker their forked tongues to gather information about their environment.
• Lizards have the ability to regrow their tails if they are injured or drop them as a defense mechanism.
• Chameleons are known for their ability to change color. They do this to blend in with their surroundings or communicate with other chameleons.
• Reptiles lay eggs to reproduce. The eggs are usually buried in the ground or hidden in a safe place until they hatch.
• Some reptiles, like crocodiles and alligators, have powerful jaws and sharp teeth. They are excellent hunters and can move quickly in water.
• Reptiles have scaly skin that helps protect them from predators and retain moisture.
• Many reptiles, such as snakes and lizards, use their tongues to detect scents in the air. They have a special organ called the Jacobson's organ that helps them process these smells.
• Reptiles play important roles in ecosystems as both predators and prey. They help control populations of other animals and contribute to the balance of nature.