Nocturnal Animals
Know that some animals are nocturnal — active at night and sleeping during the day — and that nocturnal animals often have special features like big eyes (owls, tarsiers), large ears (bats, fennec foxes), or sensitive whiskers to help them find food in the dark
What a learner can do afterwards
- Explains what 'nocturnal' means
- Names at least 3 nocturnal animals (e.g., owl, bat, fox, hedgehog, moth)
- Describes one feature that helps a nocturnal animal (e.g., big eyes, echolocation, whiskers)
The lesson
Some animals are nocturnal. That means they are awake at night. They sleep during the day.
An owl is nocturnal. It sleeps all day in a tree. At night, it wakes up and hunts mice. Its big eyes help it see in the dark.
Nocturnal animals have special body parts. Owls and tarsiers have huge eyes. Bats and fennec foxes have huge ears. Whiskers help some animals feel their way in the dark.
Next time you hear an owl hoot, remember this. It just woke up. It is starting its night shift.
Nocturnal animals sleep by day and wake at night, using big eyes, big ears, or whiskers to find their way in the dark.
Watch it
Where it sits
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Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.