Anna Visits Our Class

Meet Anna. She is a Painted Turtle. That beautiful coloring is natural, not really painted.

This week, Anna had a chance to go to school. How many Painted Turtles do you know that attend high school?

Anna is still a young turtle. She could grow to be as big as a laptop! Lannie got Anna as a gift from her mom. Anna isn't the only turtle Lannie has had for a pet. So, Lannie knows a lot about Painted Turtles.

Anna does not mind being held. But she really likes walking around. She explored the floor of the classroom and also walked easily across the desks. When Lannie gently placed Anna on her back (on her shell), Anna wiggled and stretched and finally flipped herself over using her neck and her feet! It took a lot of work, but she did it.

A turtle's shell is actually part of its skeleton. We could feel the "spine" bumps on Anna's shell.  When Lannie held her, Anna stretched her neck out and looked around.

I wonder what a high school classroom looks like to a Painted Turtle, don't you?