GAMES
LEARNING RESOURCES
Click on any of the activities below to get started!
Habitats
Did you know that animals have homes just like we do?
Click on the habitats below to check out their characteristics and see which animals live in them!
Polar
Polar habitats are located at the very top and very bottom of the Earth. They are cold, windy and have a lot of snow and ice. It’s even too cold for trees to grow. Because it is too cold for trees to grow in arctic habitats, animals find other places to live such as holes in the ground, or in caves made from snow. Animals in polar regions have adapted to survive in these extreme conditions. They have thick fur or feathers, blend in with the white snow, or hibernate during the coldest winter months. Most animals that live here are carnivores (they eat meat) and hunt for fish as well as smaller animals. Examples of animals that live here are seals, penguins and polar bears.
Desert
Deserts are places that don’t get much rain, and are very dry. They can be either hot or cold places. Because deserts don’t have much water, animals that live in the desert are able to conserve water and keep their body temperature at the right level. Both plants and animals have adapted to be able to live in the desert. Depending on where on the Earth it is, a desert can be classed as hot or cold. Hot deserts can get very hot during the summer, while cold deserts can get extremely cold in the winter. The largest hot desert in the world is the Sahara Desert in Africa, and the largest cold desert is the Gobi Desert in China. Examples of animals that live here are insects, lizards and camels.
Woodland
Forests provide everything that the creatures who live there need – food, water and shelter. Forests can be hot or cold, with different kinds of trees in different climates around the world. Fruits and nuts found in the forest make a perfect meal for animals who live there, so they don’t have to search too far to find food. Forests also provide shelter for animals, whether it’s within the tree roots or trunks, or high up in the branches. Animals that live in forests and woodlands include big animals like bears, moose and deer, and smaller animals like hedgehogs, raccoons and rabbits.
Marine
Marine habitats can be very different from each other depending on how warm the water is. Warm, tropical water has coral reefs full of tiny, colourful fish, while chilly waters in the polar regions have fewer species that have adapted to water that cold! Creatures who live in marine habitats can breathe underwater (for example, using gills) or can hold their breath for a long time and just come up to the surface every now and then for air. The water in marine habitats has 35g of salt for every kilogram of water. This is a lot more than is in our drinking water and is why we can’t drink water from the ocean as we'd become dehydrated very quickly! Examples of animals that live in the water are jellyfish, octopus, lobsters and sea urchins.
Once you're done, press the Home button above to head back and start the next activity!
Adaptation
None of these animals would be able to survive in the wild without a few ways in which they can adapt to the environment.
Click on each of the animals (or plants!) to see how they adapt in the extreme climates.
Lizards
Many lizards have a tail which breaks off readily when grabbed by a predator. This enables the lizards to escape if attacked. A lizard's tail is used as a fat storage for times when there is not much food for them to eat in the desert. By losing its tail is is losing a valuable food source. Lizards protect themselves from the heat by being strictly nocturnal. This means that they only come out from their holes at night time to hunt for food. Lizards have extra-thick skin to help prevent drying out in the desert.
Camels
Camels have many adaptations that allow them to live successfully in desert conditions. Camel has long eyelashes and nostrils that can open and close so it doesn't get sand up its nose. A camel can go a week or more without water, and they can last for several months without food. Camels store fat in the hump, not water. The fat can be metabolised for energy. Camels feet are wide so they can walk on sand more easily. Their huge feet help them to walk on sand without sinking into it. Camels have thick lips so they can eat the prickly desert plants with out feeling pain.
Cacti
Cactuses have expanding trunks which allows it to take in and store a great deal of water when water is available. It does not need a lot of water to survive. The flower only opens on cooler nights and is closed during the heat of midday.
Seals
Seals are marine mammals which means they spend most of their time in the water but breathe like humans and other land animals through the use of their lungs. Thick fur and blubber offer protection against freezing temperatures. Seals have more blood in their body than other animals. Since blood cells keep the oxygen, seal can dive longer than other animals and hold its breath for up to 2 hours. Seals have whiskers that help them detect the vibration of the prey under water. Seals have large eyes to see underwater where there is very little light.
Penguins
Penguins are flightless birds, but are excellent swimmers. Penguins have webbed feet for powerful swimming. Their bodies are streamlined to reduce drag in water. Their wings, shaped like flippers, also help them swim underwater. Penguins have to keep high body temperatures to remain active. They have thick skin and lots of fat (blubber) under their skin to keep warm in cold weather. They also huddle together with their friends to keep warm. The dark coloured feathers of a penguin's back surface absorb heat from the sun which help them to warm up too.
Polar Bears
A polar bear's white fur helps them blend in with the snow and ice. They have a layer of fat under its skin which helps it stay warm. It also has a thick layer of fur. Their wide, large paws help a polar bear to walk in the snow. When a polar bear swims under water it closes it nostrils so no water can get in. Polar bears are adapted to suit a cold environment and therefore, would struggle to survive in a desert environment.
Once you're done, press the Home button above to head back and start the next activity!
Quiz
Instructions
Based on what you've learned in the activities prior, try answering a few questions surrounding the home of animals and how they survive in extreme climates!
Results
Drag and Drop
Instructions
Try out this drag and drop activity and place the animals in the correct habitats!
