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Questions to think about
Questions to think about
Why do you think some animals are more active at night than during the day?
Why do you think some animals are more active at night than during the day?
How was the raccoon I encountered able to make its way into my garbage can in the middle of the night?
How was the raccoon I encountered able to make its way into my garbage can in the middle of the night?
Quick Review
Quick Review
Scientists have categorized and placed animals into three distinct time frames for when they are active. Although we will be focussing on nocturnal animals, let's review all three time frames.
Scientists have categorized and placed animals into three distinct time frames for when they are active. Although we will be focussing on nocturnal animals, let's review all three time frames.
Diurnal
Diurnal
Animals that are active and come out during the day when the sun is out.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal
Animals that are active and come out during the night when the sun is down.
Crepuscular
Crepuscular
Animals that are active and come out both during dawn or dusk; when the sun rises and when the sun sets.
Nocturnal Adaptations
Nocturnal Adaptations
Nocturnal animals have special adaptations that allow them to dwell and stay active during the night especially with little to no sunlight. Take the raccoon I discovered in my garbage can for example. Check out some of the adaptations the raccoon possess to allow it to stay active at night. Most of these adaptations are possessed by many other nocturnal animals!
Nocturnal animals have special adaptations that allow them to dwell and stay active during the night especially with little to no sunlight. Take the raccoon I discovered in my garbage can for example. Check out some of the adaptations the raccoon possess to allow it to stay active at night. Most of these adaptations are possessed by many other nocturnal animals!
Who's Nocturnal?
Who's Nocturnal?
Using the adaptations listed in the raccoon diagram above, look at the pictures of these 6 animals and guess which 3 of them are nocturnal and which 3 are diurnal. Think about what adaptations each of these animals might have to allow them to be active either during the day or night.
Using the adaptations listed in the raccoon diagram above, look at the pictures of these 6 animals and guess which 3 of them are nocturnal and which 3 are diurnal. Think about what adaptations each of these animals might have to allow them to be active either during the day or night.
Opossum
Opossum
Nocturnal
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Diurnal
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal
Diurnal
Little Brown Bat
Little Brown Bat
Nocturnal
Eastern Garter Snake
Eastern Garter Snake
Diurnal
Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Nocturnal
Ways To Experience Your Neighborhood Environment at Night
Ways To Experience Your Neighborhood Environment at Night
Being able to observe and experience nature in your neighborhood at night can be different for everyone. This may depend on where you live or how comfortable you feel going outside at night. It is most important that you experience the outdoors at night safely. If you do decide to go out at night, be sure to have an adult or someone with you.
Being able to observe and experience nature in your neighborhood at night can be different for everyone. This may depend on where you live or how comfortable you feel going outside at night. It is most important that you experience the outdoors at night safely. If you do decide to go out at night, be sure to have an adult or someone with you.
If you have the option of going outside....
If you have the option of going outside....
Sit outside in your backyard, or the front of your home. Take a moment of silence and observe what you see and hear.
Sit outside in your backyard, or the front of your home. Take a moment of silence and observe what you see and hear.
If you don't have the option of going outside...
If you don't have the option of going outside...
With the lights off, look outside through a window. What do you see? What are some things you notice are different when looking outside compared to the day time?
With the lights off, look outside through a window. What do you see? What are some things you notice are different when looking outside compared to the day time?
Write down your observations in your nature journal. Use the "I notice, I wonder, It reminds me of" prompt to make further observations.
Write down your observations in your nature journal. Use the "I notice, I wonder, It reminds me of" prompt to make further observations.
Click the button down below to follow another activity you can do INDOORS that puts you in the shoes of a nocturnal animal!
Click the button down below to follow another activity you can do INDOORS that puts you in the shoes of a nocturnal animal!
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