Who is Awake at Night? Lesson Plan

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Reading Objective:
Children will learn about several nocturnal animals and some ways that they survive and find food at night.

Next Generation Science Standards:
K-LS1 Animals’ Survival Needs;

1-LS1 How Animals Use External Parts to Survive

Vocabulary:

raccoon, whiskers

Project this page to do as a whole class or copy it for students to do on their own:

 

1. What do bats look for at night (food)

2. What helps an owl hunt at night (big eyes.)

3. What will raccoons eat? (They will eat anything. )

4. Why do you think raccoons can get people’s trash at night without getting caught? Draw a picture of raccoon getting into trash in the dark. (Answers will vary.)

 

Go online to print or project the Reading Checkpoint.

  • Animals that are awake at night are nocturnal.
  • Raccoons come out at night because their enemies are sleeping then. Nobody bothers them.
  • Worms come out at night. In the daytime, they stay underground. The sun can dry out their bodies.
  • Moths drink nectar from flowers that bloom at night. Nectar is a sweet juice that flowers make.

Materials: pencils, a small object to observe such as a small toy or piece of fruit, copies of the skill sheet

 

Overview: Children will learn about the senses and how nocturnal animals survive in the dark.

Directions:

  • How do nocturnal animals find their way in the dark? 
  • Some animals can see in the dark. But some use their sense of smell, touch, or hearing toexplore their nighttime world. 
  • Ask kids to close their eyes. Place in front of each child an object such as a piece of fruit, a pencil, or a small toy. It’s OK if some peek.
  • Ask children to feel their object. Is it smooth or rough?   
  • Have children shake their object. Do they hear a sound? If so, is it loud or soft?
  • Have children smell their object. Do they like the smell? Record observations on the skill sheet.