How can you tell they’ve got it: Nocturnal Animals?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Explains what 'nocturnal' means; Names at least 3 nocturnal animals (e.g., owl, bat, fox, hedgehog, moth); Describes one feature that helps a nocturnal animal (e.g., big eyes, echolocation, whiskers). Or just try it together: If your child hears an owl hooting at bedtime, can they explain that owls are nocturnal — meaning they sleep during the day and come out at night — and that their big eyes help them see in the dark?

Science Animals of the World Ages 5–7

Nocturnal Animals

Your child knows some animals are awake at night and sleep by day, like owls and bats. Big eyes or large ears help them find food in the dark.

In curriculum terms

Know that some animals are nocturnal — active at night and sleeping during the day — and that nocturnal animals often have special features like big eyes (owls, tarsiers), large ears (bats, fennec foxes), or sensitive whiskers to help them find food in the dark

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Explains what 'nocturnal' means
Names at least 3 nocturnal animals (e.g., owl, bat, fox, hedgehog, moth)
Describes one feature that helps a nocturnal animal (e.g., big eyes, echolocation, whiskers)

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Try this together

If your child hears an owl hooting at bedtime, can they explain that owls are nocturnal — meaning they sleep during the day and come out at night — and that their big eyes help them see in the dark?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Animals Everywhereages 5–7Nocturnal animals builds on knowing animals exist in diverse environments

Animal Homesages 5–7Nocturnal animals often use homes (burrows, dens) as daytime shelters

Nocturnal Animalsthis skill · ages 5–7

Unlocks

Desert Animalsages 7–9Desert nocturnal behaviour builds on understanding nocturnal concept

Animal Camouflageages 5–7Camouflage and nocturnal behaviour are related survival strategies

Predator Hunting Strategiesages 7–9Nocturnal hunting connects to predator strategies

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

Animal Camouflageages 5–7 Animal Homesages 5–7 Animal Record-Holdersages 5–7 Animals Everywhereages 5–7

All Animals of the World skills →