What's a Reptile?

(Describer) A ball sits on grass.
(girl) I love exploring in my backyard. There are so many cool animals to find, if you look closely... like this box turtle. Turtles are reptiles.
(Describer) It has a shell on top of it.
Reptiles have dry skin covered with scales or bony plates, like my turtle friend. The plates make up his shell. Turtles stay safe by moving their heads, arms, and legs inside their shell. This long guy is a garter snake. He feels very smooth and is covered in scales. Snakes don't have arms or legs, so they sliver on their bellies. All reptiles are cold-blooded, so they sit in the sun to warm up. And here's my big brother's pet iguana, Simon. He lives inside our house, not the backyard. Iguanas are lizards, a type of reptile. They have scales like snakes.
(Describer) They have legs.
Lots of lizards can shed their tails to escape when they're in danger. Now, that is amazing! Some reptiles are poisonous or could bite you. It's another way that they might escape danger. So don't touch without an adult's permission. I told you there was a lot to explore.
(Describer) Titles:
Now Playing As: Captioned (English) (change)
Explore the narrator’s backyard to get an up-close look at some scaled friends. Students will learn about the characteristics of reptiles. Animals discussed include turtles, snakes, and lizards. Part of the "Everyday Science for Preschoolers" series.
Media Details
Runtime: 2 minutes
- Topic: Science
- Subtopic: Animals, Biology, Reptiles
- Grade/Interest Level: K - 3
- Release Year: 2015
- Producer/Distributor: PBS Learning Media
- Series: Everyday Science for Preschoolers
Available Resources
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