EDRG 3344 T/R MGP Persuasive

My Persuasive piece is a letter to my students about not littering around lakes, ponds, or beaches because it can harm not only turtles but other animals who inhabit that watery home. So here goes:

Dear Second Grade Students,

This month we have been learning about turtle habitats. We have also created an aquarium habitat for our own classroom turtle, Sheldon. As we have cared and feed our class turtle, we realize that our turtle is a living organism that needs caring and we have grown to love Sheldon. Yet, Sheldon is not the only turtle who needs our help.

Zoologists are scientists who study animals. Zoologists tell us that turtles are being hurt because of human pollution. The ponds, lakes, streams and oceans are not being kept clean. People are throwing trash in the water and the turtles are eating the trash. Some of the trash that scientists have found inside of turtles is foil, Styrofoam, paper, hooks, fishing line and plastic bags. Turtles in the ocean usually eat jellyfish, but when they see a plastic bag in the water they think it is a real jellyfish and eat it. When turtles eat trash they can get very sick and die.

We don’t want to hurt any more turtles. So we need to tell our friends and help to keep the lakes, rivers, and ocean clean to keep turtles healthy. Please throw away all trash into a garbage can. Don’t leave it in or near the water. We will not only help Sheldon’s family but all the other living animals like fish and frogs.

With love,
Ms. Bernal and Sheldon