Are turtles and tortoises the same thing?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Are turtles and tortoises the same thing?

The Big Idea

Turtle or tortoise? People mix them up! Are they the same thing?

Tortoises

Step one: Tortoises. Turtles and tortoises are close cousins. Tortoises live on land and have high, domed shells and sturdy, round feet.

Water Turtles

Step two: Water Turtles. Many turtles spend lots of time in water. They have flatter shells and webbed feet or flippers, which help them swim and dive in ponds, rivers, and oceans.

All Turtles

Step three: All Turtles. People sometimes use the words in different ways in different places. Scientists say all tortoises are a kind of turtle, so calling a tortoise a turtle is never wrong.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Land. Water. Tortoise shells. Turtle feet.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! All tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. Tortoises have domed shells. Many turtles have webbed feet. The words vary by place.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Draw a chart with two columns: tortoise and water turtle. Draw the shell for each. Draw the feet for each. Write where each lives. Compare them.

Outro

Turtles and tortoises are close cousins. Tortoises live on land with domed shells and sturdy feet, while many turtles live in water with flatter shells and webbed feet. Scientists say all tortoises are turtles. Science is amazing! What will you discover next? Every question is a new adventure, so keep wondering 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!