Book 4, Question 63 · Video
Why Do Turtles Hide in Shells?
A turtle's shell is its skeleton on the outside! The ribs and backbone are joined to that armor, so the turtle can never take its house off. When danger comes, the soft parts just
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do turtles hide in shells?
The Big Idea
A turtle's shell is its skeleton on the outside! The ribs and backbone are joined to that armor, so the turtle can never take its house off. When danger comes, the soft parts just pull in. Box turtles live in woods, and sea turtles have flatter shells built for swimming. Different turtles have different kinds of armor for different homes.
Turtle Walks
Step one: the turtle walks. A turtle walks along with its head and legs out. It is calm, and looking for food. Some box turtles can even close a hinged bottom shell like a front door.
Danger Nears
Step two: danger nears. A shadow passes, or a step gets close. The turtle senses that something is wrong.
Pull In and Wait
Step three: pull in and wait. The head and legs pull in, and only the hard armor shows. A raccoon or fox faces a hard box instead of a soft snack, so the threat often leaves.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at a turtle shell! The top shell is a hard dome of armor. The bottom shell protects the belly. The ribs and spine are fused to the shell, so they are part of it. And the head can pull in, for safety.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Never paint a shell. Paint can trap heat and block growth. A turtle in the road needs a grown-up, who should move it in the direction it was walking. Some box turtles can close the front door with a hinged bottom shell. Look, but do not take a wild turtle home. Wash your hands after touching any turtle.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, compare a photo of a box turtle and a sea turtle. Which shell looks like a hide-in box? Which shell looks built to swim? Write down your idea.
Outro
A turtle carries its safe home wherever it goes. Not bad for a shell! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!