KEYSTONE SPECIES: Gopher Tortoise - Facts, Vocab, and Crossword

KEYSTONE SPECIES: Gopher Tortoise - Facts, Vocab, and Crossword

Zero Prep + Answers are upside down on the page!

• What is a keystone species?
• Why is a gopher a keystone species?
• Fun Facts
• How do they help other animals?
• Crossword

Product Key:

• No Prep
• Easy to copy and print (black and white, standard size)
• Use: Field Trips, Classrooms, Nature Centers, Zoos & Aquariums
• Not Grade Specific
• Answers are upside down on page
• Multiple learning styles
• Independent
• Does not need glue or tape
• Does not need scissors
• Gamification learning
• Great for reluctant readers

For elementary students learning about the gopher tortoise as a keystone species, the following NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) can be relevant:

3-LS2-1

Ecosystems

- Students can develop a model to represent the relationships between the gopher tortoise and other organisms in its ecosystem, highlighting its role as a keystone species.

4-LS1-1

Structure and Function

- This standard encourages students to explore how the physical characteristics of the gopher tortoise and its burrows affect other species and the ecosystem.

4-LS2-1

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

- Students can investigate how the gopher tortoise contributes to the habitat by providing shelter and resources for other species, emphasizing its keystone role.

5-LS2-1

Ecosystem Interactions

- Fifth graders can develop a model to describe how interactions among organisms (including the gopher tortoise) affect the population and health of the ecosystem.

These standards will help students understand the concept of keystone species through the lens of the gopher tortoise and recognize its significance in maintaining ecological balance.