Green Sea Turtle for Kids Ages 3-5

Green Sea Turtle

A Green Sea Turtle tells the story of its life, from hatching on a sandy beach and racing to the ocean, to swimming in the sea and eating seagrass. The turtle explains how its special diet gives it its name and how it acts as a 'gardener for the sea,' keeping underwater meadows healthy for other fish and sea creatures.

First Described 1758

Listed under U.S. Endangered Species Act 1978

A Turtle's Tale: The Green Sea Turtle

Hello. I am a Green Sea Turtle. My story started on a warm, sandy beach. I was inside a small, round egg, all cozy under the sand. One day, I wiggled and wiggled and popped right out. I saw so many of my brothers and sisters. We all came out of the sand together. The big, sparkly blue ocean was calling to us. So we all started to race. Wiggle, wiggle, we moved as fast as we could across the sand to get to the water for our very first swim.

Now, I live in the big, beautiful ocean. Swimming here is my favorite thing to do. Do you see the big shell on my back? That is my home. I carry my home with me everywhere I go, so I am always safe and sound. I love to eat yummy things in the sea. When I grew up, I learned my favorite foods are seagrass and green algae. Munch, munch, munch. Eating all that green food is what helps make my insides a little bit green. That is how I got my name, the Green Sea Turtle. I am called the Green Sea Turtle because of the greenish color of my body fat, which is attributed to my diet of seagrasses and algae.

I have a very important job in the ocean. When I nibble on the seagrass, I am like a gardener for the sea. I keep the underwater meadows healthy and neat, just like someone trimming a lawn. This helps make a happy and safe home for all the little fish and other sea creatures who live there. I love being a helper for my big ocean family, and my work helps everyone in the water stay healthy and happy.