How do a sea turtle’s flippers help it swim?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do a sea turtle’s flippers help it swim?

The Big Idea

Sea turtles seem to fly underwater! They glide with little effort. How do their flippers help?

Wing-Shaped Fronts

Step one: Wing-Shaped Fronts. A sea turtle's front flippers are long and shaped like wings. It flaps them up and down in a motion that looks like flying underwater.

Back Rudders

Step two: Back Rudders. Its back flippers act like rudders to steer. Together, front and back flippers help it travel long distances across the ocean.

Clumsy on Land

Step three: Clumsy on Land. On land, those same flippers are clumsy, and a turtle moves slowly. In the ocean, the turtle seems to glide with very little effort.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Flap like wings. Steer. Easy gliding. Slow going.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A sea turtle's flippers are really its arms and legs. Front flippers work like wings. Back flippers steer like rudders. Sea turtles are slow on land.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Hold your arms out. Flap them like wings in slow motion. Then try paddling them like oars. Which feels more like a sea turtle? Try steering with your feet too!

Outro

A sea turtle's long front flippers flap up and down like wings, so it seems to fly underwater, while its back flippers steer like rudders. On land, those flippers are clumsy, but in the ocean the turtle glides with little effort. Science is amazing! The world is full of surprises. Keep asking big questions, and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!