Week 06 · Wednesday: Scaly and Slippery (Backyard Explorer K to 2)

Wednesday: Reptiles near you

Raven opens the notebook to a new page.

"Reptile list," she writes.

Rocket asks, "Which ones live near us?"

Nova projects a glowing list. "Look and see."

Spotting reptiles

Reptiles are quiet and still.

They are easy to miss.

Look on warm rocks and sunny logs.

Look on sunny paths and walls.

Turtles may rest on logs near water.

Move slowly so they do not hide.

Look, never touch

Some snakes can bite.

Turtles can bite too.

So we never touch a reptile.

We look from far away.

A grown-up stays with you.

◈ YOUR REPTILE FIELD GUIDE

These are reptiles people see most near you.

Which ones have you seen?

#	Name	Seen most
1	Western Fence Lizard	Mar to Jun
2	Pond Slider	Mar to Jun
3	Green Anole	Mar to May, Sep
4	Common Garter Snake	Apr to Sep
5	Brown Anole	Mar to Oct
6	Painted Turtle	Apr to Jun
7	Common Box Turtle	May to Jul
8	American Alligator	Feb to May
9	Common Snapping Turtle	Apr to Jun
10	Side-blotched Lizard	Mar to Jun

Whole United States. Names and months come from records people shared on GBIF.org. Your yard may have different neighbors.

SPOTTING CHECK

Read the question.
Tap your answer.

Where might a reptile rest?

How should you move near reptiles?

Can you touch a reptile?

What did Nova project?

Try it

Look at your field guide.
Pick one reptile name.
Tell your grown-up its name.
Which months is number 2 seen most? Point to them.

Safety first

Stay with your grown-up.
Never touch or pick up a reptile.
Never poke a reptile with a stick.
See a snake? Step back and tell a grown-up.
Wash your hands after you go outside.

Sentence	True or false?
Reptiles are easy to miss.	?
Turtles may rest on logs near water.	?
You may poke a reptile with a stick.	?
Some snakes can bite.	?

WHY THIS EXERCISEReptiles hide well. We look and never touch.

SAFE LOOKING

Read the question.
Tap your answer.

You spot a turtle on a log. What do you do?

Who stays with you on a reptile look?

Why are reptiles easy to miss?

Sentence	True or false?
A sunny log is a good place to look.	?
Fast, loud moves help you see reptiles.	?
Reptiles have scales.	?

WHY THIS EXERCISESlow and quiet works. Reptiles have scales.

Look at your field guide. Draw number 1.

Word Spot: even, such

Here are new sight words.

Look at each word. Say it. Spell it.

Even: E-V-E-N.

Such: S-U-C-H.

FIND THE WORD

Listen to the word.
Tap it.

Find the word you hear.

FILL THE GAP

Listen to the sentence.
Tap the missing word.

Two and four are ___ numbers.

That was ___ a fun game.

You know where reptiles hide!

Tomorrow you will see which amphibians live near you.