Our post today is inspired by a book I spotted at our local library: Sneed B. Collard III’s Most Fun Book Ever About Lizards by, you guessed it, Sneed B. Collard III (for a full review, see Wrapped in Foil). 
We have many different kinds of lizards here in Arizona. I love how this book starts out with an introduction to “Joe Lizard,” a western fence lizard, which is the kind we see in our yard all the time. The author also discusses other lizards common to Arizona, such as Gila monsters, horned lizards and western whiptails.
What are lizards?
Lizards are reptiles with over-lapping scales. They also have moveable quadrate bones that allow them to open their mouths very wide. Finally most lizards (but not all) have legs, which distinguishes them from the snakes.
Lizards also have the ability to drop their tails if they are attacked by a predator. You can see the discolored area of the tail where this one has just grown its tail back.
Western fence lizards can be found climbing on trees, where they lend in perfectly with the bark, as well as on fences. The males have bright blue bellies, which they show off by doing push-ups.
Whiptails have particularly long and slender tails.
Collared lizards, named for the black band at their neck, are often brightly-colored.
Activity 1 :Â Lizard body temperature
Lizards and other reptiles are ectothermic, which means that their internal body temperature is controlled by the temperature of the environment around them. Another word for this is “cold-blooded,” although lizard don’t really have cold blood. Lizards move from sun to shade and place to place to keep their temperature in the optimal range.
Children may assume that when the outdoor temperature is 78° F, it is the same temperature everywhere. In fact, many surfaces will be colder or warmer than the air temperature depending on sun exposure and other factors. These differences are called “microclimates.”
Gather:
- Thermometers (enough for every participant, if possible.)
- Lamp (if doing this activity indoors), or sunny day outdoors
- Dry play sand (or soil if not available)
- Water
- 2 containers to hold sand (enough for small groups of participants to share)
- Timer or watch
- Pencil and paper
Place a similar amount of sand into each container. Moisten the sand in one of the containers with water. Set both containers in the shade or indoors with the lamp off for a a few minutes to allow it to stabilize. Now take the temperature of the sand just under the surface with the thermometer for both containers and record the results.
Move the containers to a sunny place or under a lamp. Take the temperature after five minutes and again after ten minutes. Did it change? How did the temperature of the wet sand change in comparison to the dry sand? (The temperature of the wet sand should change less than dry sand).
If outdoors, encourage the children to check and record temperatures in several locations, both in the shade and in the sun.
If you were a lizard that should have an internal temperature about 80 °F, where would you spend your time? How about if your preferred temperature was 90°F?
What do lizards do when it is too cold out? Our Arizona lizards hibernate during the coldest months of the year.
Activity 2. Lizard in the Sun (Under a lamp)
See how a “lizard” absorbs heat. Appropriate for younger children.
Gather:
- Two lizard shapes cut from black construction paper
- Small desk lamp
Place one lizard shape directly under the lamp and one at least three feet away, preferably in a shaded or dark area. Have the children compare the temperature of each.
(Older children could record the temperature difference with a thermometer.)
Optional: Added graphic of temperature vs. lizard activity on page 3 from Sonoran Desert Museum’s Leaping Lizard’s handout.
(See more activities for preschoolers in our newer post.)
Citizen Science:Â More opportunities for studying lizards
- If you live in Texas, you might be interested in the Texas Horned Lizard Watch
- In the eastern United States, try Anole Lizards
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has GeckoWatch.
And don’t forget,
Sneed B. Collard III’s Most Fun Book Ever About Lizards
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (February 1, 2012)
ISBN-10: 1580893244
ISBN-13: 978-1580893244
Disclosures: The book was from our local library. Also, I am an affiliate for Amazon. If you click through the linked titles or ads and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Proceeds will be used to maintain this self-hosted blog.
Where is your favorite place to watch lizards?
(*Note: It was entirely the lizard’s own decision to climb up this person. It was not picked up or handled.)
