LIVE Reptiles Tour

Meet the Ectotherms!

From slithering snakes to leaping lizards, bring your students up close with live reptiles to learn about their cold-blooded nature and adaptations that help the critters survive in the wild! Students will work with a Burpee educator and walk through several orders of chordates, including the order Squamata (lizards and snakes) and the order Testudine (turtles and tortoises).

Key Concepts:

Features of Survival: Learn key traits that make individuals suited to survival success in their specific habitat

Ectotherm vs. Endotherm: Learn how cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals are physiologically different and how they can both survive well in some of the same habitats.

Form and Function: From the turtle’s protective shell that looks very different in a snapping turtle vs. a box turtle…to the fat and muscular tail of a tegu…learn how the animals’ form relates to the function of that part and success in different environments.

Skills:

Asking questions, making observations, analyzing and interpreting

Accessibility:

The program includes moving short distances in groups and sitting on the floor for discussion & activities. Chairs and/or tables are available upon request. Students may experience an animal encounter with a turtle or tortoise. We believe there should be no boundaries for your students’ Burpee Museum experience. If you have an accommodation request related to a disability, please get in touch with us at 815-965-3433. We look forward to assisting you.