Weird Australian Animals

Australia has some very weird animals! Meet a horribly fascinating reptile, the second largest bird in the world and mammals of the marsupial and monotreme kind. Learn about their habitats, clever adaptations and quirky habits that make them so unique.

Watch the video below to learn more.

Facts about the thorny devil, emu, echidna, platypus and tasmanian devil.

Educational Children’s Song

The song Weird Australian Animals was written based on the fun facts found in the YouTube video from Curiosity Capers. Here’s a quick summary of the facts that you’ll find in both the video above and the song

1. Thorny Devil: This spiky reptile blends into deserts, eats ants, and collects morning dew with its thorns.

2. Platypus: This egg-laying mammal has a duckbill for finding food with electroreceptors and venomous spurs.

3. Short-beaked Echidna: Another monotreme, this mammal lays eggs and uses its long snout to eat ants and termites. It curls into a ball for protection.

4. Tasmanian Devil: This fierce marsupial has a bad odor and eats anything, including roadkill and other carnivores' prey.

5. Emu: The second tallest bird, emus are flightless with tiny wings but can run fast and swim. They have extra eyelids for dusty environments and can drink for 10 minutes straight.

Weird Australian Animals by Caper Kids Music on YouTube.

Song Lyrics for Weird Australian Animals

Hi, I’m a Thorny Devil I might sound bad, but I’m not evil.

I’ve got camouflage all over my skin, I live in the desert where I blend in

I got pointy thorns all over my back, which help me survive, when others attack

I’m one of a kind, I’m really unique, I love to eat ants, they’re a tasty treat

I’m a platypus, I’ve got good looks, and if you’ve read your history books

People once believed, I wasn’t real. I’m an egg-laying mammal, with a duck bill

A beaver’s tail, and otters fee. I’m an animal you wanna meet

But don’t get too close! I got venomous spurs, which can be deadly to small critters

We are weird Australian Animals

We are weird Australian Animals

G’day everyone, I’m an echidna, I also eat ants and I’m a good digger

My claws at the front, and feet at the back are very handy for digging up snacks

I’m a monotreme, like my platypus friend, which means we’re mammals, who lay eggs

And when I’m scared you might only see my spiny spikes protecting me

And we’re the second tallest birds alive, our wings are small and we cannot fly

Our emu legs, give powerful kicks and help us run, really quick

We eat insects, fruit, and plants and drink lots of water when we get the chance

With all that dirt and all that dust our see through eyelids are a must

We are weird Australian Animals

We are weird Australian Animals

Woah! What’s that stink? Oh, it’s me. What did you think!

I’m a little bit crazy, with bad hygiene, but I’m an animal, so don’t blame me

I’ll eat anything, anywhere, I’m a Tasmanian Devil yeah!

I eat animals, dead or alive, I love to scream and get in fights

We are weird Australian Animals

We are weird Australian Animals

Thorny devil

Lesson Plan: Weird Australian Animals

Target Age Group: Primary/Elementary School Children (Adjust difficulty based on specific age)

Subjects: Science, Art, Music

Learning Objectives:

• Students will be able to identify some unique Australian animals.

• Students will learn interesting facts about these animals' adaptations.

• Students will be able to differentiate between mammals, reptiles, and birds.

• Students will be able to express their creativity through art and music.

Materials:

• Projector and screen

• Coloring pages of featured Australian animals (Thorny Devil, Platypus, Short-beaked Echidna, Tasmanian Devil, Emu) (You can find these online or create your own)

• Word search worksheet with vocabulary related to Australian animals

• “Weird Australian Animals” song

• “Weird Australian Animals” YouTube video

Lesson Duration: 30-45 minutes

Lesson Procedure:

Introduction (5 minutes):

1. Start by asking students what they already know about Australia. Briefly discuss its location and unique geography.

2. Introduce the concept of endemic animals - animals that are found only in a specific region. Tell them today they will learn about some of Australia's weird and wonderful endemic animals.

3. Show pictures or plushies of some of the animals you'll be covering (Thorny Devil, Platypus, Short-beaked Echidna, Tasmanian Devil, Emu). Ask students if they recognize any and what they know about them.

Activity 1: Weird Animal Facts (15 minutes):

1. Option 1 (using video): Play the “Weird Australian Animals” YouTube video. Pause after each featured animal and discuss the interesting facts presented. (e.g., Thorny Devil's spiky body and dew collecting trick).

2. Option 2 (no video): Introduce each animal individually. Briefly describe their physical characteristics and unique adaptations. Use the provided facts about the Thorny Devil, Platypus, Short-beaked Echidna, Tasmanian Devil, and Emu.

3. Discuss the concept of adaptations - how animals develop special features to survive in their environment. Ask students why they think these animals have such unique features (e.g., Platypus' bill for finding food in water, Emu's speed for escaping predators).

Activity 2: Word Search and Coloring (15 minutes):

1. Distribute the word search worksheet with vocabulary related to the Australian animals you covered (e.g., Thorny Devil, Platypus, Echidna, marsupial, mammal, reptile, bird, desert, water, burrow). Students can work individually or in pairs to find the hidden words.

2. Hand out coloring pages featuring the Australian animals. Encourage students to color them creatively while thinking about the animal's unique features discussed earlier.

Activity 3: Song and Movement (5 minutes):

1. Play the “Weird Australian Animals” song. Explain that the song is about the interesting animals they learned about today.

2. Encourage students to sing along and move their bodies to the music. You can come up with simple actions for each animal (e.g., hop for emu, waddle for platypus, curl up for echidna).

Wrap-up (5 minutes):

1. Briefly review the key facts about the Australian animals learned today.

2. Ask students to share their favorite animal and why.

3. (Optional) Have students draw their own “weird” Australian animal and explain its special adaptations.

Assessment:

• Observe student participation in discussions and activities.

• Collect completed word search worksheets to check vocabulary understanding.

• Briefly discuss students' coloring pages to see if they incorporated the animals' unique features.

Differentiation:

• For younger students, simplify the vocabulary and provide more visual aids.

• For older students, provide more in-depth information about the animals' habitats and conservation efforts.

• Provide different difficulty levels for the word search.

Extension Activities:

• Students can research other unique Australian animals and create short presentations.

• Organize a class “Australian animal parade” where students dress up as their favorite animal.

• Have students write a short story about a fictional Australian animal.

Remember to have fun and encourage creativity throughout the lesson!