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Blue-tongue Lizard Mini Study

Backyard· Nature Study· Reptiles· Summer

2 Feb
Shingle-back Skink

Blue-tongue lizards love to bake in the sun during the summer months and it’s likely you’ll bump into one on your wanderings. We studied the lizard in Week 2 of the Australian Nature Study Guide | Summer Autumn, and one thing I found interesting, was that they give birth to their young, unlike most lizards that lay eggs.

Another interesting fact was the third eye which sits on top of the lizard’s head. This eye is able to detect night from day and it helps to regulate their body temperature. The most fascinating thing about these lizards is, of course, their blue tongue which they stick out while flattening their bodies when they feel threatened.

They are great backyard buddies as they keep insects, snails, and slugs in check by the veggie patch.

Mini Blue-Tongue Lizard Study

Indoor Prep Work

  • Read more about Blue-Tongue Lizards at Backyard Buddies.
  • Or check out ‘Lizards’ by Mark O’Shea at the library.
  • Read Laziest Lizard by Susannah McFarlane.

Field Work

Look out for a Blue-Tongue Lizard or any skink on your nature ramble. Should you find one, observe it carefully. Can you spot the third eye? Do you notice how the scales lay neatly one on top of the other? This is to keep the dirt out. Did you notice the scale pattern? Take note of its habitat, season, and time of day. What was it doing? Can you estimate the length?

Blue-tongue Lizard

Field Journaling 

Sketch your sighting in a nature journal. It can be a simple drawing of the lizard within it’s habitat or you can make a scientific sketch and label it’s anatomy. Older students can draw the internal anatomy of the lizard if they’d like to be challenged. You can add facts you’ve learned about the lizard or journal your own observations.

Lizard Anatomy

Head

  • Eye and eyelid.
  • Ear
  • Nostril
  • Mouth

Body

  • Skin Tubercles
  • Femoral pores
  • Forelimb and hind-limb each having a foot and digits (toes).
  • Vent.

Tail

Activities

  • Use the Blue Tongue Notebook Page to sketch your sighting and write your observations.
  •  Create a habitat for a lizard in your backyard.
  • We used a hallow log, bark, and leaves to create a lizard home.
  • Create a 3D image of a lizard using natural items. We used leaves and bark.
  • Paint a lizard using dots as in Aboriginal art. Compare lizards and snakes by using a Venn diagram. Start a Reptile List.

Learn all about reptiles.

Table of Contents

    • WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLUE-TONGUE LIZARD?
  • You may be interested in:
    • Honeybee Mini Study
    • Extraordinary Bees

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLUE-TONGUE LIZARD?

Dig deeper with the Australian Nature Study Guide | Volume 1 | Summer/Autumn.

You may be interested in:

Honeybee Mini Study

Extraordinary Bees

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About Marie

Homeschooling is a gentle amble for me since four of my five children have graduated. I share my joy with things beautiful, good and lovely with my grandchildren where I live contently with hubby in rural South Australia.

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We have outdoor expeditions to undertake and adventures to embark upon. We’ll explore the outdoors together, side by side, and uncover miraculous mysteries, and secrets. We’ll wander, and wonder in amazement as we become familiar with the Australian fauna and flora.

I desire to come alongside you in the muddle, making nature study the joy it’s meant to be.  Outdoor adventures will become a regular part of your life as you make connections to the natural world with a sense of awe.

Testimonials

Valerie

I totally enjoy using the Nature study guide. The children enjoy learning about the different animals and plants.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:51:39+10:30
I totally enjoy using the Nature study guide. The children enjoy learning about the different animals and plants.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/valerie/

Jessie

I looked high and low online for an Australian nature based curriculum and when I found Australian Nature study Guide on Instagram I was so excited to have finally found something that my family can relate to. My favourite thing about this guide is that Marie is so hands on and involved with her customers. I have never felt alone in the journey, she is there to guide and encourage us every step of the way in the Facebook group. Thanks Marie for welcoming us to your nature study family 🙂
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:52:36+10:30
I looked high and low online for an Australian nature based curriculum and when I found Australian Nature study Guide on Instagram I was so excited to have finally found something that my family can relate to. My favourite thing about this guide is that Marie is so hands on and involved with her customers. I have never felt alone in the journey, she is there to guide and encourage us every step of the way in the Facebook group. Thanks Marie for welcoming us to your nature study family 🙂
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/jessie/

Sarah

Absolutely love the activity books my whole family can learn together and it’s Australia based. Highly recommend
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:52:01+10:30
Absolutely love the activity books my whole family can learn together and it’s Australia based. Highly recommend
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/sarah/

Rachel

We began our homeschool journey this year keen to explore all that nature study entails. I had searched the web for weeks to research what we would use as our framework. I cannot describe the elation I felt when I came across an AUSTRALIAN nature study guide! Marie has done all the hard work and put together a wonderfully elaborate resource for all ages. You can dip your toe in or dive right into all the ideas and links. There’s so much here we could spend all week doing nature study, and often we do.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:53:11+10:30
We began our homeschool journey this year keen to explore all that nature study entails. I had searched the web for weeks to research what we would use as our framework. I cannot describe the elation I felt when I came across an AUSTRALIAN nature study guide! Marie has done all the hard work and put together a wonderfully elaborate resource for all ages. You can dip your toe in or dive right into all the ideas and links. There’s so much here we could spend all week doing nature study, and often we do.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/rachel/

Cheryl

We didn’t find out about the program until about half way through term, so we played catch up most of the time. I love how open ended the lessons are, but with enough structure to work well for those children needing such a program. We have been able to cover much of the required curriculum whilst enjoying the activities we love. Your program has been such a blessing to us, because we needed a change to our homeschooling lessons which would still cover curriculum, but would enable us to relax and enjoy “school” together. Thank you.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:50:47+10:30
We didn’t find out about the program until about half way through term, so we played catch up most of the time. I love how open ended the lessons are, but with enough structure to work well for those children needing such a program. We have been able to cover much of the required curriculum whilst enjoying the activities we love. Your program has been such a blessing to us, because we needed a change to our homeschooling lessons which would still cover curriculum, but would enable us to relax and enjoy “school” together. Thank you.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/cheryl/

Sally

We have really enjoyed the program this term. We have gotten outside more often and the children are definitely taking more notice of things when we are out. Having a place to share what we have done and seen has been an encouragement to keep it up. I sometimes felt like we could spend longer on some topics as they were so interesting but that is probably just my obsessive "we must cover everything now" problem. 
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:48:30+10:30
We have really enjoyed the program this term. We have gotten outside more often and the children are definitely taking more notice of things when we are out. Having a place to share what we have done and seen has been an encouragement to keep it up. I sometimes felt like we could spend longer on some topics as they were so interesting but that is probably just my obsessive "we must cover everything now" problem. 
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/sally/
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