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If your kids are like mine, they love learning about animals, including nocturnal ones. Learning about these fantastic creatures who hunt, prowl, and are otherwise active at night is a fun way for kids to understand what’s happening in nature while they’re asleep in their beds.
About my lesson plans:
I create my unit study on my kids interests and incorporate most of these elements into each one. Videos (usually from YouTube), books, websites, printable sheets (variety of coloring, facts, activities, etc), snack, craft/hands on and field trip. Depending on how in depth we get, I space out the activities between 3-4 days and 1-2 weeks.
Nocturnal animals activities
Below are the websites and resources we used in our nocturnal animals unit study. I incorporate most of the following elements into each topic my kids want to learn about. This is spaced out over 2-3 days, over a week.
- 1-2 Videos
- 2-3 Books
- Printable lessons and activities
- 1-2 Websites
- Snack recipe
- Craft or hands-on activity
- Field trip
Let’s begin!
Nocturnal Animals Videos
We always start our units with a video or two. I found that videos helped get them interested in the lesson ahead and also answered some questions they may have.
My kids love the Kratt brothers! Their shows and videos have taught them a lot about animal habitats and adaptations.
Note: The two videos listed below are from YouTube. I pay for a premium ad-free subscription because we often use it for homeschooling. You can use another video platform if you prefer or skip them.
Watch this fun episode of Wild Kratts called Creatures Come Out At Night.
Follow up with this fun video that lets kids hear the sounds and calls of various creatures of the night. My kids loved it!
Nocturnal Animals Book List
Next, we sat on the couch and read three books we borrowed from our local library. If you would rather purchase them, I linked to each on Amazon using my affiliate link. My son enjoyed all these books and read them several times before we returned them.
1. Animals at Night: An Interactive Glow-in-the-Dark Bedtime Story Children’s Book about Nocturnal Animals by Anne Jankéliowitch
2. Be a Night Detective: Solving the Mysteries of Twilight, Dusk, and Nightfall by Peggy Kochanoff
3. Night Creepers by Linda Stanek
Nocturnal Animals Printables
After reading, we’ll usually move to the kitchen table to discuss what we’ve learned and find answers to questions. At the same time, we do activities, such as coloring pages, puzzles, worksheets, or drawing.
For most units, I gather our papers into a folder and label them. We keep them in a plastic file box, accessible for easy reading. Puzzle pieces go into an envelope in the folder pocket.
My nine-page Nocturnal Animals Lesson Pack contains –
– Fact sheet
– Animal cards with names
– Count and graph
– Identify and spell the animal name
– Spelling puzzle
– Owl coloring page
– Raccoon coloring page
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Interesting Websites on Nocturnal Animals
After that, we looked at two websites for more information on nocturnal animals.
Nat Geo Kids – page and free download pack on nocturnal animals.
Nocturnal Animals in Florida – This page also has audio of animal calls and sounds.
Nocturnal Animals Snack
Sometimes, we make a snack related to what we’re learning. It’s a fun way to extend the learning.
This owl was a tasty treat that was easy for the kids to assemble.
Nocturnal Animals Craft
I found this adorable craft on Pinterest! (are we Pinterest friends?) My kids enjoyed making this cute owl.
I look for crafts that they can complete on their own, with me being as hands-off as possible. Like most of us, I have to resist the urge to step in and fix their crafts. If I go into a craft already knowing they’re going to do it by themselves it’s easier for me.
Cut out owl, beak, and claw shapes. Punch or cut two bright-colored circles and two slightly smaller black circles. Glue black circles onto the center of colored circles and glue in cupcake liners. Glue the liners, claws, and beak onto the owl shape.
Nocturnal Animals Field Trip
A local nature park maintains several bat houses. The park rangers are available for questions, and my kids have learned a lot from them. Find out what’s going on in your local parks and museums.
For more, check my lesson plan on bats – Bats lesson plan
If you have any resources to add, please leave them in a comment below.
Have fun learning and happy homeschooling!
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