“Mosey on over for a shellabration”

Invitations

Turtle invite printable - You will need green construction paper with a few different green pieces of tissue paper. Put two pieces of paper together and cut out a oval (turtle shell.) Glue/staple these together on the left hand side (to create a card.) Cut the tissue paper into squares and glue onto the front of the turtle shell. Add all the details of the party on the inside.


Send Turtle Pretzels (see below) into your child's school in individual bags with party invitations attached.

Short on time??  - click here for an easy printable turtle party invitation


Decoration Ideas

Terrariums as center pieces with fake (or real) turtles (use clear bowls)

Balloon tie downs – cover rocks with green tissue paper and glue/tape a brown head & feet to the bottoms

Colors = brown and greens

Turtle stickers…allow children to decorate banners, bags, table cloths with turtle stickers and/or turtle cut outs.


Favors

Turtle Pretzels – snack. Need: Mini pretzels, caramel filled chocolate candy (or peanut butter or chocolate filled) & halved pecans. Directions: place candy on top of pretzels and warm in the oven at about 300° for 5 minutes. Press pecan halves into the chocolate while it’s still warm. Let cool before serving. (allow older children to make these as a craft / favor). Send home on a turtle plate with a turtle tag.

Turtle Tags – attach these to your goody bags, be sure to write each child’s name on his/her bag


Games

Turtle Dance – give everyone a pillow. Turn on music and when the music stops the kids have to drop to the floor and put their pillow over their head. Last person to get into the turtle position is out...each round someone is eliminated. The parents can be the judges of who is the slowest to drop to the ground with their pillow on their head.  Not enough pillows???  Show the children the 'Animal House' turtle...sure to get giggles.

“Turtle” Relay Races – come up with a bunch of relay races where the competitors move VERY slowly. Example – crab walking, running backwards, rolling, carry an egg on a spoon, etc.

Sandbox Egg Hunt – explain how turtles lay eggs by digging holes in sand/dirt and depositing their eggs into the hole before burying them. Bury eggs filled with goodies in the sandbox prior to the party. Allow one child at a time (or everyone…if you are brave) to find a turtle egg. For added fun, have participants use their feet or use special gloves made to look like turtle claws. To make it more exciting put a Turtle Tag in one egg and the person that finds that gets an “extra special” prize.

Make a Terrarium - supply large glass bowls, sand, rocks and fake or real plants.  Allow children to make their own take-home terrarium.  OR supply one large aquarium and allow all the children to work on building ONE terrarium together.  This can be sent into the class or kept by the birthday child if he/she has a pet turtle.


Crafts

Turtle Candle – take a small round votive holder (found at your local $ store) and glue small pieces of tissue paper all over it. Paint Modge Podge all over to seal it. Add a pom-pom and googly eyes for the head. Place votive candle inside and light. Volia – a pretty turtle light!

Make your own Turtle Shell – Each child gets a piece of poster board OR a paper plate cut out into a turtle shell shape. They can decorate their shells (markers, crayons, construction paper, etc.) Tie a piece of elastic to the ends of the shells, so the children can wear them as hats.