Life science · 6-8
The African savanna elephant is the largest living land animal. Its trunk combines the nose and upper lip and can smell, breathe, drink, trumpet and grasp tiny or heavy objects. Family herds are led by experienced females that remember routes to food and water.
Animal facts
Lions are the most social wild cats. Related females usually form the centre of a pride, cooperate to raise cubs and may hunt together. A male's mane can make him look larger and may signal age and condition, while powerful calls help lions communicate over kilometres.
Animal facts
A giraffe's long neck lets it browse leaves that many animals cannot reach, but it still has seven neck vertebrae like most mammals. A tough tongue and lips handle thorny branches. Its large heart and specialised blood vessels manage blood pressure between head and body.
Animal facts
Red pandas are not close relatives of giant pandas; they are the only living members of their own family. Flexible ankles let them climb head-first down trunks, and the long ringed tail provides balance and warmth. A modified wrist bone acts like a thumb for holding bamboo.
Animal facts
Polar bears depend on sea ice as a platform for travelling and hunting seals. Their black skin lies beneath transparent hollow-looking fur that scatters light and appears white. Thick fat, small ears and fur-covered feet reduce heat loss, while broad paws spread weight on snow and help swimming.
Animal facts
Bottlenose dolphins are mammals: they breathe air through a blowhole, are warm-blooded and feed calves with milk. Echolocation clicks bounce from objects and return as echoes, helping dolphins judge distance and shape. Social groups use whistles, touch and coordinated movement.
Animal facts
The cheetah is the fastest land mammal. Long legs, a flexible spine and claws that do not fully retract give grip and stride length during a sprint. The long tail helps steer, while black tear marks may reduce glare and make it easier to focus on prey in bright grasslands.
Animal facts
The giant panda is a bear specially adapted to a bamboo-rich mountain habitat. A modified wrist bone works like a thumb for gripping stems, and broad molars crush tough plant material. Because bamboo provides limited energy, pandas spend much of each day eating and resting.
Animal facts
The emperor penguin is the largest living penguin and the only species that breeds through the Antarctic winter. After the female lays one egg, the male balances it on his feet beneath a warm skin fold. Adults huddle to conserve heat and dive beneath sea ice to catch fish, squid and krill.
Animal facts
The green turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle and the only mainly herbivorous sea-turtle species as an adult. Its name comes from greenish body fat, not shell colour. Powerful front flippers carry it across oceans between feeding areas and the nesting beaches where females lay eggs.
Animal factsShort explanations, worked examples, hands-on practice, optional checks, and a note for grown-ups.
Begin with an overview of “How scientists group animals”. Then learn the main idea, follow an example, and try it yourself.
8 minBegin with an overview of “A habitat supplies life's needs”. Then learn the main idea, follow an example, and try it yourself.
8 minBegin with an overview of “Bodies match challenges”. Then learn the main idea, follow an example, and try it yourself.
8 minBegin with an overview of “Energy moves through food webs”. Then learn the main idea, follow an example, and try it yourself.
8 minBegin with an overview of “Animals send information”. Then learn the main idea, follow an example, and try it yourself.
8 minBegin with an overview of “Protect species and habitats”. Then learn the main idea, follow an example, and try it yourself.
8 min