Virtual Lessons

Virtual Turtles

Learners participate in a 50-minute interactive video lesson about sea turtles through a guided game show format. This is followed by an open Q&A chat with our ocean expert.

Recommended for Ages (Grades):
- 11-12 (6th), 12-13 (7th), 13-14 (8th)
Can be Adapted for Ages (Grades):
- 08-09 (3rd), 09-10 (4th), 10-11 (5th)
- 14-15 (9th), 15-16 (10th), 16-17 (11th), 17-18 (12th)

Format: Interactive Video Lesson
- 🖥 It's easy to connect
Duration: 50 mins
Fee: $150
Mote Research Connection:
- Sea Turtle Conservation & Research
- Turtle Hospital
Animals featured in this lesson:
- Sea turtles (Kemp's Ridley, Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Green, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Flatback)
- barnacles, tiger shark, diamondback terrapin, box turtle, sea jellies
Keywords: adaptation, anatomy, arribada, biodiversity, carapace, classification, conservation, ectotherm, endangered, extinction, habitat, hatchling, husbandry, migration, nesting, plastron, predator, rehabilitation, reproduction, reptile, scute, stranding, vertebrate

Objectives: Differentiate reptile traits. List all seven species of sea turtle. Explain the conservation status of sea turtles. Compare three stewardship actions.

Outline:

Intro and prior knowledge
Guided Reptilian Millions game
- Reptile traits. Sea turtle anatomy and adaptations.
- Classification. Species diversity
Research and conservation
Open questions and answers

st5kinfo

Request this lesson to see our calendar and all available dates.SCHEDULING HELPLINE: (941) 388-2904 ☎️We use Bookeo to process requests.

Supplemental resources featuring Mote research

The following media can be used before or after your live virtual field trip with Mote to enhance the lesson.

Sea Turtle Conservation & Research

Dolphin, Whale & Sea Turtle Hospitals

Stranding Investigations

Sea Turtles: Ancient Survivors

Meet the Team

Researchers and staff working with sea turtles at Mote Marine Laboratory.

Kristen Mazzarella

Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, Senior Biologist

Lynne Byrd

Dolphin, Whale & Sea Turtle Hospitals, Rehabilitation and Medical Care Coordinator

Gretchen Lovewell

Stranding Investigations Program, Program Manager

Standards

Subject Areas

Life Sciences

Ocean Literacy Principles

OLP #5 The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystemsOLP #6 The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected

Florida State Standards

SC.3.L.15.1, SC.3.L.17.1, SC.3.N.1.1, SC.3.N.1.4, SC.3.N.1.7, SC.4.L.16.3, SC.4.L.17.2, SC.4.L.17.4, SC.4.N.1.1, SC.4.N.1.8, SC.5.L.15.1, SC.5.L.17.1, SC.6.L.15.1, SC.7.L.15.1, SC.7.L.15.2, S.C.7.L..15.3, SC.7.L.17.1, SC.8.N.4.1, SC.8.N.4.2

Next Generation Science Standards

5th Grade

5-LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and DynamicsLS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (5-LS2-1)LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems (5-LS2-1)5-ESS3: Earth and Human ActivityESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems (5-ESS3-1)

6th - 8th Grades

MS-LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and DynamicsLS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (MS-LS2.1; MS-LS2.2)LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience (MS-LS2-4)LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans (secondary to MS-LS2-5)MS-LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and DiversityLS4.C: Adaptation (MS-LS4-6)MS-ESS3: Earth and Human ActivityESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems (MS- ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4)ESS3.D: Global Climate Change (MS-ESS3-5)

9th - 12th Grades

HS-LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and DynamicsLS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (HS-LS2-1, HS- LS2-2)LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience (HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6, HS-LS2-7)LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans (HS-LS4-6, secondary to HS- LS2-7)ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions (secondary to HS-LS2-7)HS-LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and DiversityLS4.C: Adaptation (HS-LS4-5), (HS-LS4-6, HS-LS4-5)LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans (HS-LS4-6, HS-LS4-7)HS-ESS3: Earth and Human ActivityESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems (HS-ESS3-3, HS-ESS3-4)ESS3.D: Global Climate Change (HS-ESS3-5, HS-ESS3-6)ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions (secondary to HS-ESS3-2, secondary HS-ESS3-4)

Common Core ELA/Literacy

5th Grade

RI.5.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. (5-LS2-1)

6th - 8th Grades

WHST.6-8.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources. (MS-LS1-8)SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. (MS-LS2-2)RST.6-8.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics. (MS-LS3-1),(MS-LS3-2)

9th - 12th Grades

WHST.11-12.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the specific task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation. (HS-LS1-3)RST.11-12.7 Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem. (HS-LS2-6),(HS-LS2-7),(HS-LS2-8)