- Identify the needs of reptiles and make a map of where you're likely to find reptiles and where you're likely not to find reptiles. For example, many reptiles live in desert areas, where temperatures are hot; by contrast, you won't find reptiles in Antarctica because the temperature is too cold. Since reptiles are cold-blooded, they wouldn't be able to survive in the harsh, cold temperatures of Antarctica. Ask students to identify where specific reptiles live. For example, some reptiles are only naturally found in some continents or states.
- Before class starts, place several thermometers outside in places that will have different temperatures. For example, choose a sunny place on the soil, a sunny place on a rock, a shady place in the soil and a shady place on a rock. Place a thermometer on top of each environment and wait a few minutes until the thermometer can get an accurate reading. Ask students to record the temperatures of the locations and decide where the reptile would want to be in different situations. To make the activity more specific and relatable, research the needs of particular reptiles common in your area.
- Let the class take care of a reptile for the school year so students get a better understanding of how the animal lives and what it does on a regular basis. Teach children about how to treat animals in terrariums -- that you don't bang against the glass and how the animal needs a good supply of oxygen. Let students take turns feeding the animal on a regular basis and watch how it suns and grooms itself. Let students learn about responsibility by cleaning the cage. Further the educational experience by letting students record their observations, the quantity and frequency they feed the animals and any changes in its appearance. For example, snakes will shed their skins regularly as they grow, and lizards may change colors when upset or when too cold or too hot.
- Let students pick a particular reptile, such as a turtle, and create food chains indicating what animals and plants are involved in the livelihood of the reptile. For example, worms eat plants, and turtles eat worms. If there were no plants in the area, there would not be many worms, and the turtles would have fewer worms to eat. Let students draw pictures of the different elements in the food web or clip pictures from magazines. Use an arrow between the elements to show the relationships. Explaining about food webs helps students understand the importance of not taking a species or plant out of a particular area.
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