Getting Outdoors

Students attached simple radio tracking devices on turtles in the field and then recorded data about the turtles’ locations. This hands-on outdoor activity uses the technology of radio tele... See More

Students attached simple radio tracking devices on turtles in the field and then recorded data about the turtles’ locations. This hands-on outdoor activity uses the technology of radio telemetry. Students record data on a locality data survey sheet and learned about sexing turtles and recorded information on a ‘morphometric data sheet’. While this is an awesome experience for these students, the cost of the tracking devices is pricey. There are sites that provide data for tracking migratory birds and butterflies which would reduce the cost of providing these devices.

Tracking Eastern Box Turtles

This article outlines a scientific study that involves tracking box turtles on school property using radio tracking equipment. This is an excellent scientific research study that teaches stu... See More

This article outlines a scientific study that involves tracking box turtles on school property using radio tracking equipment. This is an excellent scientific research study that teaches students how to collect data, analyze data for trends, and understand the impact of habitat fragmentation on box turtles. This study, which cannot be conducted on every campus, can be utilized as a basis for studying an alternative species provided state wildlife regulations and student safety guidelines are followed.