This page includes links to resources to go along with my Reptiles Unit! Find the Reptiles Unit and other nature-based learning materials in my Shop!
1.) Reptile Vocab Activity (external links)
- Venomous and poisonous
- Venomous versus poisonous. Same thing, right? Wrong! – from the National Park Service
- Bite or be bitten: What is the difference between poison and venom? – By E. Osterloff at the Natural History Museum
- Are snakes venomous or poisonous? – from the Orlando Science Center
- Ectotherm and endotherm
- Endotherms & Ectotherms (article) – from Khan Academy
- Endotherm and ectotherm entries on Britannica Kids
- Aposematism and camouflage
- Warning: Aposematism Explained – by the American Museum of Natural History (includes videos)
- What is Aposematism – by Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders Kids’ Zone
- Oviparous and viviparous (and ovoviviparous)
- 8 Snakes That Give Live Birth Like Mammals & Why (With Pictures!) – from ReptileGuide
- Which Reptiles Do Not Lay Eggs? – from Sciencing
- Scales and scutes
- What is a Scute? – from AllThingsNature
- Nocturnal and diurnal (and crepuscular)
- Nocturnal definition from Merriam-Webster
- Diurnal definition from Merriam-Webster
- Nocturnal, Diurnal, and Crepuscular Animals – on WildEarthLab.com
- Aquatic and terrestrial (and marine)
- Terrestrial definition (see definition 2b) from Merriam-Webster
- Aquatic definition (see definition 1) from Merriam-Webster
- Marine definition (see definition 1a) from Merriam-Webster
- Marine reptiles (video) – from MarineBio
- Reptile and amphibian
- Amphibian or Reptile? Here’s the difference – by M. Schick at the Shedd Aquarium
- Exploring similarities, celebrating differences: Amphibians and Reptiles – from the Greater Cleveland Aquarium
- Vertebrate and invertebrate
- Vertebrate – from Britannica Kids
- Invertebrate – from Britannica Kids
2.) Reptile Research Project: suggested resources (external links)
- I created a list of Department of Wildlife websites for each US state – These websites usually include info on native species – including reptiles!
- Websites for National Parks, State Parks, and other Natural Areas often have information on local species, including Reptiles. Find the website for a park near you. Or, as an example, see these pages from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Great Basin National Park, and Smoky Mountains National Park
- The National Wildlife Federation has a list of US reptiles by category
- View the reptiles category in this animal database – from the San Diego Zoo website
- The NOAA website has species profiles for different species of Sea Turtles.
- The Reptile Database includes nice photos of reptile species, as well as links to scientific journal articles for each species.
3.) Additional lesson plans and free activities – for educators (external links)
- Marine Reptiles video – from Natural World Facts (not grade specific)
- Desert Tortoise 101 video from Joshua Tree NP (not grade specific)
- Lots of Amphibian and Reptile Education Resources from Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (various grade levels)
- Sea Turtle Lessons and Activities from NOAA (various grade levels)
- 5th grade sea turtle curriculum – from University of Florida
- Animal Camouflage lesson plan from Pennsylvania State University (5th grade)
- Why are Iguanas falling from the Sky? lesson plan – touches on the topic of ectotherms – from Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (6th grade)
4.) References (external links)
These include reference websites, books, and materials I used to fact check the information within the Reptiles Unit as well as websites you may find helpful when gathering background information on this unit’s topic. Use the links below to enjoy the wealth of information these references have to offer!
- American Museum of Natural History (2017). 155-Million-Year-Old Fossil Holds Clues About Land Animals’ Transition Back to Sea. Available: https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/research-posts/155-million-year-old-fossil-holds-clues-about-land-animals-transition-back-to-sea
- American Museum of Natural History (2017). WARNING: Aposematism Explained. Available: https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/news-posts/warning-aposematism-explained
- BBC (2021). ‘Smallest reptile on earth’ discovered in Madagascar. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55945948
- Discovery UK (2019). What On Earth Is A Tuatara? | Modern Dinosaurs (YouTube Video). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44JUXPzEI2U
- Greater Cleveland Aquarium (2019). EXPLORING SIMILARITIES, CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES: AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES. Available: https://www.greaterclevelandaquarium.com/exploring-similarities-celebrating-differences-amphibians-and-reptiles/
- Hurt, A. (2023). Crocodiles Are Particularly Good Mothers. Discover Magazine. Available: https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/crocodiles-are-particularly-good-mothers
- Nuwer, R. (2013). Ancient Reptiles Kept Switching Between Laying Eggs And Giving Birth to Live Babies. Smithsonian Magazine. Available: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-reptiles-kept-switching-between-laying-eggs-and-giving-birth-to-live-babies-180948172/
- Rocky Mountain National Park (n.d.). Animal Camouflage. NPS. Available: https://www.nps.gov/romo/animal_camouflage.htm
- Rocky Mountain National Park (n.d.). Warning Coloration. NPS. Available: https://www.nps.gov/romo/warning_coloration.htm
- Schick, M. (2015). Amphibian or Reptile? Here’s the Difference. Shedd Aquarium. Available: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/stories/amphibian-or-reptile-here-s-the-difference
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (n.d.). Sinaloan milksnake. Available: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/sinaloan-milksnake
- Uetz, P. (1996). General Information (and “FAQ”). The Reptile Database. Available: http://www.reptile-database.org/db-info/introduction.html
