Animals & Environment
Select a Level
NEW
27 Oct 2026
Turtles' Secret Family: Closer to Crocodiles and Birds!
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A turtle swims across the sea.
b) Scientists look inside very old turtle skulls.
c) A baby turtle is born at a zoo.
Ask:
(1) What animals have a hard shell?
(2) What do you know about turtles?
VOCABULARY
turtle (/ˈtɜːtl/, noun)
Meaning: An animal with a hard shell on its back. It lives in water or on land.
Example: The turtle is swimming slowly in the pond.
shell (/ʃel/, noun)
Meaning: The hard outside part on the back of some animals.
Example: A snail carries its shell everywhere.
hide (/haɪd/, verb)
Meaning: To go to a place where nobody can see you.
Example: My little brother hides under the bed.
reptile (/ˈreptaɪl/, noun)
Meaning: An animal with dry, scaly skin. Snakes and crocodiles are reptiles.
Example: The lizard is my favourite reptile at the zoo.
fossil (/ˈfɒsl/, noun)
Meaning: Very old bones or shells that are now hard like stone.
Example: We see a dinosaur fossil at the museum.
skull (/skʌl/, noun)
Meaning: The bones of the head.
Example: Your skull keeps your brain safe.
scientist (/ˈsaɪəntɪst/, noun)
Meaning: A person who studies the world and does tests to learn new things.
Example: The scientist is looking at a tiny bug.
cousin (/ˈkʌzn/, noun)
Meaning: A child of your aunt or uncle. It also means a close family member.
Example: My cousin and I play football every Sunday.
Look at this turtle! It is sitting on a log in the warm sun. On its back, it has a hard shell. Is it scared? Then it hides its head and legs inside. Turtles are reptiles. Lizards, snakes and crocodiles are reptiles too.
But who is in the turtle's close family? This is a very old question, and it is a hard one. Turtles look very different, so nobody is sure.
Now a team of scientists has a good answer. They are studying very old turtle skulls. These skulls are fossils. Wow, they are about 210 million years old! The scientists use a special X-ray machine to look inside them.
Guess what? Inside, the turtle skulls look like crocodile skulls. So turtles are not close cousins of lizards and snakes. Their close cousins are crocodiles and birds!
Today, the scientists are very happy. The whole world is hearing their news! So next time you see a turtle by a river, look for a crocodile or a bird. They are all one big family.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Section 8: Discussion Questions
1. Where is the turtle sitting in the story?
2. What does a turtle do when it feels scared?
3. How old are the turtle fossils?
4. Who are the turtle's close cousins?
5. Which animal do you like best: a turtle, a crocodile or a bird? Why?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: fossils, cousins, shell, reptiles
Look at this turtle! It is sitting on a log in the warm sun. On its back, it has a hard _______(1). Is it scared? Then it hides its head and legs inside. Turtles are _______(2). Lizards, snakes and crocodiles are reptiles too.
But who is in the turtle's close family? This is a very old question, and it is a hard one. Turtles look very different, so nobody is sure.
Now a team of scientists has a good answer. They are studying very old turtle skulls. These skulls are _______(3). Wow, they are about 210 million years old! The scientists use a special X-ray machine to look inside them.
Guess what? Inside, the turtle skulls look like crocodile skulls. So turtles are not close _______(4) of lizards and snakes. Their close cousins are crocodiles and birds!
Today, the scientists are very happy. The whole world is hearing their news! So next time you see a turtle by a river, look for a crocodile or a bird. They are all one big family.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of the story?
a) Turtles like to sit in the warm sun.
b) Scientists use X-ray machines at the hospital.
c) Turtles are close cousins of crocodiles and birds.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. The turtle is sitting on a log. T/F
2. The turtle fossils are 10 years old. T/F
3. Turtles are close cousins of lizards and snakes. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Write 1, 2 or 3.
a) The scientists see that turtle skulls look like crocodile skulls. ____
b) A turtle is sitting on a log in the sun. ____
c) The scientists look inside old turtle skulls with an X-ray machine. ____
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. hide
2. skull
3. scientist
4. cousin
5. fossil
a) a person who studies the world and does tests
b) very old bones or shells that are hard like stone
c) to go where nobody can see you
d) a close family member, like your aunt's child
e) the bones of your head
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. I like turtles ______ they have a hard shell.
a) but
b) so
c) because
2. Turtles ______ their heads inside their shells.
a) hide
b) hides
c) hiding
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. A) a hard shell / B) The turtle / C) on / D) has / E) its back
2. A) cousins / B) Crocodiles / C) are / D) and birds / E) the turtle's
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up
b) Scientists look inside very old turtle skulls.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) shell
(2) reptiles
(3) fossils
(4) cousins
Section 2: Main Idea
c) Turtles are close cousins of crocodiles and birds.
Section 3: True or False
1. T
2. F (They are about 210 million years old.)
3. F (Their close cousins are crocodiles and birds.)
Section 4: Put Events in Order
a) 3
b) 1
c) 2
Correct order: b, c, a
Section 5: Vocab Match
1-c (hide: to go where nobody can see you)
2-e (skull: the bones of your head)
3-a (scientist: a person who studies the world and does tests)
4-d (cousin: a close family member, like your aunt's child)
5-b (fossil: very old bones or shells that are hard like stone)
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. c) because
2. a) hide
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. B, D, A, C, E: The turtle has a hard shell on its back.
2. B, D, C, E, A: Crocodiles and birds are the turtle's cousins.
Section 8: Discussion Questions
1. It is sitting on a log in the warm sun.
2. It hides its head and legs inside its shell.
3. They are about 210 million years old.
4. Crocodiles and birds are its close cousins.
5. Answers will vary. Example: I like turtles best because they are slow and calm.
Thank you for your feedback!