---
title: Tiny Terps Teach Big Lessons
date: 2022-12-05T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/tiny-terps-teach-big-lessons"
section: Articles
---
# Tiny Terps Teach Big Lessons

*December 5, 2022* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih)


> College of Education’s Diamondback Terrapin Hatchlings Bring Science, Math and History to Life

*Terrapin Class 12012022 SC 8696 1920x1080 1 — Elementary education major Lauren Taylor ’23 holds one of three baby terrapins being raised at the College of Education, where they’ll serve as teaching tools for the 2022-23 school year before being released back into the Chesapeake Bay in the summer.*

University of Maryland students are accustomed to seeing larger-than-life Testudos, whether bronze statues or furry mascots. Now a few Terrapins are holding real terrapins, and finding they fit in the palm of their hands—though they’re not content to stay there.

The walnut-sized hatchlings are incredibly squirmy and dexterous, as Lauren Taylor ’23 demonstrated in class last week, carefully lowering one into a plastic tub on its back. Before she could even remove her hands from the container, the tiny terp flipped right-side up again.

“They have really long and strong necks so they can turn themselves over,” she said.

That’s one vivid example of the physical adaptations that terrapins have developed to survive and thrive in the turbulent coastal waterways they calls home. Elementary education majors had their lesson brought to life with the help of three diamondback terrapins that are being raised in a tank at the College of Education for the 2022-23 school year.


*two baby terrapins*



**Sidebar note:**

**See the Baby Terps (And Help Name Them!)** Want to see the hatchlings? They’ll be on display in Room 2311 of the Benjamin Building in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership office today and tomorrow! You can also [vote until Wednesday](http://go.umd.edu/NameOurTerps) to help name the trio.

For faculty members who are interested in using the terrapins in class, contact Amy Green (amygreen@umd.edu) or Angela Stoltz (astoltz@umd.edu) to arrange a visit.

“This is the pilot year, so we are trying to see the different ways we can engage our students and staff in learning in and around these guys,” said Green.





**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [College of Education](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-education)