Leopard Gecko Mini-Unit 🌟

 Click here to purchase

 

Use this collection of worksheets to introduce your students to the leopard gecko! This unit is designed to focus on 10 specific vocabulary words pertaining to the leopard gecko, and presents them in a variety of ways. It also incorporates basic math practice, measurements, gecko body parts, and diurnal vs. nocturnal behavior. 

  Phoenix the leopard gecko came to live in our classroom through a grant from Pets in the Classroom, an organization that promotes education through integrating animals in schools. The grant was easy to apply for, and paid for the entire enclosure, supplies, and most of the cost of the gecko herself. Click the picture below to check them out!

 When I went to buy the gecko, I had to drive two hours to get to our nearest Petsmart. The attendant helping me lifted the rock house to reveal a scared, single gecko, the last one for sale. She turned to me and stated, "Oh, you probably don't want this one. It's missing part of the tail." Well, being a teacher of Special Education, I realize that we all have something that isn't quite "perfect"! I couldn't snatch this special little gecko up fast enough! 

Geckos have a cool talent that they can detach their tail if they are grabbed by a predator. Well, this poor gecko must have been handled too roughly at the pet store, but I was surprised how fast a new tail grew back! I took pictures of the regrowth, and have a page for letting your students measure the rate at which her tail grew back. 

 Phoenix has become the star of our classroom! Each student has learned all about her, and when we get visitors to our room, they can put their communication skills to use. We have students from general education come into our class daily now to see how she is doing, sort of a form of reverse integration!

This unit includes:
Leopard Gecko reading passage
Vocabulary matching page
Diurnal/Nocturnal page
Body parts (Blank and filled in)
Basic math puzzle page
Gecko tail growth pictures
Gecko tail growth questions
Gecko tail growth answer key
Gecko multiplication worksheet (Rainbow gecko)
Crossword
Wordsearch/word scramble
Gecko writing prompt
Full page of clip art (images you can use in your own work)

 

This unit was designed for a middle school special education classroom. As such, I tried to create differentiated material so that all students in the classroom could be working on similar material, while still being challenged. I also have a very similar unit plan using the African Pygmy Hedgehog as the subject also available in my shop.

To purchase, click here: Leopard Gecko Mini-Unit
Thanks for visiting, and happy teaching!
 :) Mrs. K