Polar Animals · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Animals of the Icy Poles

Science · Animals of the World · ages 7-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. The Arctic fox grows its white coat in summer.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. Which list names only Antarctic animals?

    • Penguin, seal, and albatross
    • Polar bear, Arctic fox, and walrus
    • Penguin, polar bear, and seal

  3. Which animal huddles close together in a big group to stay warm in the freezing wind?

    • The polar bear
    • The walrus
    • The emperor penguin

  4. Which pole do penguins live at?

    • The north pole, the Arctic
    • The south pole, the Antarctic
    • Both poles

  5. The lesson names 6 polar animals in all. 3 of them live in the Arctic. How many live in the Antarctic?

    Answer: ______________

  6. The lesson names three Arctic animals and three Antarctic animals. How many polar animals is that altogether?

    Answer: ______________

  7. Emperor penguins huddle close together in a big group during freezing wind. Why do they do this?

    • To find more fish to eat
    • To hide from other penguins
    • To share body warmth and stay warmer

  8. Max says blubber is a kind of feather that keeps water off a polar bear. Is he right?

    • Yes, feathers keep the bear dry
    • Yes, blubber floats on top of the water
    • No, blubber is a thick layer of fat that keeps the bear warm

  9. Mia travels from the north pole all the way to the south pole. Which animals could she see in the wild, in the right order?

    • Penguins at both poles
    • Polar bears first, then penguins
    • Penguins first, then polar bears

  10. An Arctic fox grows a white coat in winter, and emperor penguins huddle together in the wind. What are both of these for?

    • Surviving the freezing cold
    • Finding more fish to eat
    • Looking beautiful for each other
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Animals of the Icy Poles W1-mt_D4lyx0iYyB-s1

  1. False · The Arctic fox grows its white coat in winter, when snow covers the ground. In summer its coat turns brown again.
  2. Penguin, seal, and albatross · Penguins, seals, and albatrosses all live in the Antarctic. The other lists mix in Arctic animals like the polar bear.
  3. The emperor penguin · Emperor penguins huddle in a tight group, and each one blocks the wind for its neighbours. The polar bear keeps warm with blubber under its fur instead.
  4. The south pole, the Antarctic · Penguins live near the south pole, in the Antarctic. They are never found at the north pole in the wild.
  5. 3 · There are 6 animals in all, and 3 are Arctic. Take 3 away from 6 and 3 are left for the Antarctic.
  6. 6 · Three Arctic animals plus three Antarctic animals make six polar animals in total.
  7. To share body warmth and stay warmer · Huddling blocks the wind and shares body heat, so the whole group stays warmer.
  8. No, blubber is a thick layer of fat that keeps the bear warm · Blubber is not a feather. It is a thick layer of fat under the polar bear's fur, and it keeps the bear's body warm in freezing water.
  9. Polar bears first, then penguins · She starts in the Arctic, where polar bears live, and ends in the Antarctic, where penguins live. The two never swap.
  10. Surviving the freezing cold · The white coat hides the fox in the snow and the huddle keeps penguins warm. Both help the animals survive the cold.
Worksheet · LightMySky