Oaxaca Turtle Lesson

Oaxaca Culture
Day of the Dead Celebration

Flora and Fauna

Turtles

Create a Travel Brochure

OaxacaTurtles

Objectives:

To learn about the types of turtles that can be found off the coast of Oaxaca.
To learn about the Mexican Turtle Center.

suggested Resources/Materials:

Paper and pencil
Detailed map of Oaxaca state showing its physical characteristics.
Watercolors or tempera paints
Colored markers
Chart or heavy duty paper
Web sites (See Links below)

The lesson:

Before beginning the study of the Flora and Fauna of Oaxaca have the students complete a KWHL Chart. (K= What Do We Know?; W= What Do We Want To Know?; H= How Do We Find Out?; L= What Have We Learned?). This activity can be done as an entire class or in small groups. If done in small groups, each group will share its chart with the entire class and then the class can do a composite of all the groups.

questions:

What does the word extinct mean? What happens if an animal becomes extinct?
What types of obstacles do turtles face after they are born in their race to the sea?
What types of turtles can be found on Oaxacan beaches? Which are endangered?
What types of things might have been made out of turtle shells?
Why did the Mexican government choose the community of Mazunte for the National Mexican Turtle Center?
What are the Center’s goals?

suggested activities:

Create a mural showing turtles coming ashore to lay eggs. Show the various obstacles that the turtles encounter.
Draw pictures of the different types of turtles that nest of Oaxacan beaches.
Create a logo/design that might help the conservation causes to save the turtles.
Create a panel to discuss ways in which the National Mexican Turtle Center in Mazunte might help the local people to understand the importance of the turtles and to help them economically.

assessment:

In addition to paper and pencil tests, teachers could use individual or small group projects, oral reports, mental maps or structured overviews for assessment.

Vocabulary Search (search box)

Oaxaca web site links