Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Sea Turtles
Sea turtles are reptiles. They are related to snakes and lizards. Most sea turtles eat both plants and animals. The largest sea turtle, the leatherback, likes to eat jellyfish. Unlike other kinds of turtles, sea turtles cannot pull their heads and legs inside their shells.
Sea turtles hatch from eggs. The shells are leathery and are about the same size and shape as ping-pong balls. The female turtle goes back to the beach where she hatched. She digs a hole in the sand. She lays her eggs and covers them with sand. Then she goes back into the sea. She never sees her babies.
When the eggs hatch, the baby turtles must dig themselves out of the sand. Then they head for the water. The trip across the beach is full of danger! Many animals want to eat the little turtles before they make it into the water. Bright lights from hotels and homes can make them lose their way. After they reach the water, male turtles never go back to land. They spend their whole lives in the sea. Females only return to lay eggs.
