Turtle Conservation Curriculum
Does your class love animals? This curriculum resource links a variety of science and environmental topics with the turtles that live right here in Ontario.
Did you know that there are 8 species of turtle in Ontario, and 7 are considered Species at Risk? Turtles face many challenges throughout their life, with some of the biggest ones caused by humans. Add a little turtle knowledge to your lessons with Adopt-A-Pond's Turtle Conservation Curriculum and help spread the word that turtles need our help!
Use the options below to select activities by grade or by topic. If you have any questions or are interested in additional resources for your classroom, please contact us!
Please contact Adopt-A-Pond (416-392-5999), or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

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Background Information: Turtles Of Ontario / Glossary and Appendices
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Blanding's Turtle
Northern Map Turtle
Common Musk Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle
Painted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Wood Turtle
The Ontario Turtles
Turtle Identifier Cards
Glossary
Appendix 1: References
Appendix 2: Zoo Tours with Curriculum Links
Appendix 3: Curriculum Expectations
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Grades 1 - 8 by strand
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NOTE: Roll your Mouse over the yellow boxes to link to the associated Activities
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Grades 9 - 12 by Strand
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NOTE: Roll your Mouse over the yellow boxes to link to the associated Activities
Grades 9 and 10 - Strands
Course Strand B: Biology Strand C: Chemistry Strand D: E & S Strand E: Physics 9 Academic
SNC1DSustainable
Ecosystems
Online
ActivityActivity Name (SNC1D) 2 Turtle Identification 8 Turtle Tally 9 Congratulations, it's a girl! 16 Lights, Camera, Action! 17 Wetlands Debate 18 Turtle Hurdles 19 A Day In The Life... 21 Be A Conservationist! 22 Wanted, Students To Help Save Ontario's Turtles! Atoms, Elements and Compounds The Study of the Universe The Characteristics of Electricity 9 Applied
SNC1PSustainable ecosys
and human activity
Online
ActivityActivity Name (SNC1P) 2 Turtle Identification 8 Turtle Tally 9 Congratulations, it's a girl! 16 Lights, Camera, Action! 17 Wetlands Debate 18 Turtle Hurdles 19 A Day In The Life... 21 Be A Conservationist! 22 Wanted, Students To Help Save Ontario's Turtles! Exploring Matter Space Exploration Electrical Applications 10 Academic
SNC2DTissues, Organs and sys. Of living things Chemical Reactions Climate Change
Online
ActivityActivity Name (SNC1P) 8 Turtle Tally 9 Congratulations, it's a girl! Light and geometric optics 10 Applied
SNC2PTissues, Organs and Systems Chem reactions and their practical appl. Earth's Dynamic Climate
Online
ActivityActivity Name 8 Turtle Tally light and applications of optics
Grades 11 and 12 - Strands
Course Strand B Strand C Strand D Strand E Strand F 11 U Biology
SBI3UDiversity of Living
Things
Online
ActivityActivity Name 2 Turtle Identification 3 One of These Things is Not Like the Others 4 Guess Who? 5 Camouflage 6 Today's Picnic Specials Are 7 Turtle Appetites 8 Turtle Tally 25 Scenes From A Shell Evolution
Online
ActivityActivity Name 5 Camouflage Genetic Processes Animals: Structure and Function Plants: Anatomy, growth and function 11 C Biology
SBI3CCellular Biology Microbiology Genetics Anatomy of Mammals Plants in the Natural Environment 12 U Biology
SBI4UBiochemistry Metabolic Processes Molecular Genetics Homeostasis Population Dynamics
Online
ActivityActivity Name 4 Guess Who? 8 Turtle Tally 19 A Day In The Life... 11 U/C Enviro. Sci.
SVN3MSci. Solutns
to cont.
enviro
Online
ActivityActivity Name 17 Welands Debate Human Health and the environment Sustainable Agric. and Forestry Reducing and Managing waste Conservation of Energy 11 E Enviro. Sci
SVN3EHuman impact on the environment Human Health and the environment Energy Conservation Natural Resource Sci. and Mgmt. The Safe and enviro resps. Workplace
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Turtle Curriculum by Topic
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NOTE: Roll your Mouse over the yellow boxes to link to the associated Activities
Topic Turtles of Ontario
Turtle Trading Cards Turtle Identification One of These Things Is Not Like The Other Guess Who? Turtle Biology
Camouflage Today's Picnic Specials Are Turtle Appetites Turtle Tally Congratulations, It's A Girl! Turtle Ecology
Yawn, Stretch and Hibernate! A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words A Link In The Chain Ethics and Culture
Celebrate Good Times! How Did You Get That Fabulous Hiding Spot? To Be or Not to Be Turtle Conservation
Lights, Camera, Action! Wetlands Debate Turtle Hurdles A Day In The Life The Turtle Report Be A Conservationist! Wanted! Additional Resources
At The Zoo Turtle Scavenget Hunt New Turtle Species Discovered! Scenes From A Shell Glossary/
Appendix
Glossary Appendix 1: References Appendix 2: Zoo Tours with Curriculum Links Appendix 3 - Curriculum Expectations
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View all Turtle Curriculum Content
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Introduction
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Table of contents
Unit One - Turtles Of Ontario
Section One: Turtles of Ontario Fact Sheets
Blanding's Turtle
Northern Map Turtle
Common Musk Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle
Painted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Wood Turtle
The Ontario Turtles
Activity #1: Turtle Trading Cards
Activity #2: Turtle Identification
Activity #3: One of These Things Is Not Like The Other
Activity #4: Guess Who?
Turtle Identifier Cards
Unit Two - Turtle Biology
Section One: I'm Hot, You're Not
Section Two: Structures for Survival
Activity #5: Camouflage
Section Three: Turtle Sense
Section Four: So, What's for Dinner?
Activity #6: Today's Picnic Specials Are
Activity #7: Turtle Appetites
Section Five: Future Generations of Turtles
Activity #8: Turtle Tally
Activity #9: Congratulations, It's A Girl!
Unit Three - Turtle Ecology
Section One: Hibernation
Activity #10: Yawn, Stretch and Hibernate
Section Two: Ecological Connections
Activity #11: A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
Activity #12: A Link in the Chain
Section Three: Turtle BehaviourUnit Four - Ethics and Culture
Section One: Connections
Activity #13: Celebrate Good Times!
Section Two: Legends of the Fall
Activity #14: How Did You Get That Fabulous Hiding Spot?
Activity #15: To Be or Not to Be
Unit Five - Turtle Conservation
Section One: Turtles at Risk
Activity #16: Lights, Camera, Action!
Activity #17: Wetlands Debate
Section Two: The Plight of the Leatherback Turtle
Activity #18: Turtle Hurdles
Activity #19: A Day In The Life
Section Three: How You Can Help
Activity # 20: The Turtle Report
Activity #21: Be a Conservationist!
Activity #22: Wanted!
Unit Six - Additional Resources
Activity #23: At the Zoo Turtle Scavenger Hunt
Activity #24: New Turtle Species Discovered!
Activity #25: Scenes from a Shell
Unit Seven - Glossary and Appendices
Glossary
Appendix 1: References
Appendix 2: Zoo Tours with Curriculum Links
Appendix 3: Curriculum Expectations
Please contact Adopt-A-Pond (416-392-5999), or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.