Saturday, December 2, 2017

Book Club: What's the Difference Between an Alligator and a Crocodile?


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In the book What’s the difference between alligator and crocodile? by Lisa Bullard with illustrations by Bandelin-Dacey, children can learn some of the key differences between the two reptiles. 

Bullard's book provides great illustrations with an easy-to-read text sharing many facts.  It is well-organized and provides examples for each reptile on each pair of pages.  There is also a section for fun facts and a glossary at the end of the book to further your knowledge.


Vocabulary 



Free Alligator and Crocodile Vocabulary Worksheet for your children to color – words include the following:

Cold-blooded
Endangered
Mammals
Reptiles
Nostrils
Pretty
Scaly
Snout
Species
Territory
Freshwater
Saltwater
Alligator
Crocodile
Bellow

Activities



Share sounds with your children of baby alligators and crocodiles, as well as the noises that adults make

Share the following images of an alligator and crocodile skull with your children to review the physical differences of their snouts.  In the first two photographs, you can see the difference in shape and size.  The alligator's snout is wider and rounder while the crocodile's is narrower and more pointed. In the second two photographs, you can notice the bottom tooth sticking up on the crocodile's jaw.  This tooth is visible when their mouths are closed.


alligator skull
Replica Alligator Skull

crocodile skull
Replica Crocodile Skull

alligator skull
Replica Alligator Skull

crocodile skull
Replica Crocodile Skull 


Clay Play



Gather together materials to play with homemade or Play Doh.



Crafts 



These are two of the alligator themed crafts we have made at our home. 

Alligator Craft



Alligator at Magnolia Gardens in South Carolina 

6 comments:

  1. It's so easy to see the difference when you look at those skulls!

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  2. My son would love this book! Great activity ideas, too!

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  3. Such fun ideas for adding enrichment activities to the book. I love that!

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  4. Looks like a great book to put on our to read list!

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  5. Ohh I so have to find that book for my daughter! We are always going back and forth about the two!

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  6. I have wanted to know this for a while now!!! Thank you for sharing, I'm excited to share this with my little ones!

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