Platypus Life Cycle and Parts of a Platypus Printable

re you ready to dive into the wonderful world of the unique and intriguing platypus? Montessori-inspired materials allow children to discover and learn about the wonders of nature in an engaging and hands-on way. This printable set is specifically designed for preschool, kindergarten, and Grade 1 students, offering a comprehensive understanding of the platypus through three-part cards, information cards, diagrams, and a student booklet. Let’s take a closer look at what this printable package has to offer!

About Platypus

Platypus Life Cycle:
Platypuses start their lives as tiny eggs. The female platypus lays eggs, just like birds and reptiles! They carefully make a nest in a river or burrow to keep their eggs warm and safe. After about ten days, the eggs hatch into adorable baby platypuses called “puggles.” Puggles are tiny and quite helpless, just like how we are as babies! They stay with their mothers for about 3-4 months, growing bigger and stronger each day.

Fascinating Anatomy:
Platypuses have a very unique look. They have a beak like a duck, a furry body like an otter, and webbed feet like a duck or a swan! Isn’t that incredible? The beak is very sensitive and helps them find food underwater. Their eyes and ears are on top of their heads, letting them see and hear even while swimming. Interestingly, platypuses can close their ears and nose while diving to keep water out. They also have soft fur that keeps them warm underwater. Isn’t it amazing how they have features from various animals?

Special Characteristics:
Platypuses have many special talents and interesting characteristics. First, they are one of the few mammals that lay eggs! Second, they are excellent swimmers and spend most of their time in the water. Platypuses can hold their breath for a few minutes while searching for food, like insects, worms, and small fish. They also have special cheek pouches to store food and take it to the surface to eat. Platypuses are mainly active during nighttime, which makes them nocturnal animals.

PLatypus learning activities

Diving into Platypus Biology:
Materials needed: paper, crayons, scissors, a few rubber bands or tape.

To help preschoolers understand the unique traits of a platypus, start off with a simple coloring and cutting activity. Provide children with printed pictures of a platypus or encourage them to draw their own. Cut out the body parts and attach elastic bands or tape to create moving arms, legs, and tails. This activity allows children to explore the platypus’s features and stimulates their fine motor skills.

Platypus life cycle anatomy characteristics 3 part cards information student booklet montessori nature printable (2)

Build a Platypus Habitat:
Materials needed: craft paper, markers, art supplies, toy animals or figurines, leaves, and rocks.

Before introducing your preschoolers to the platypus’s habitat, talk about the key elements of their home – a freshwater river or pond, tree roots, and burrows. Provide kids with craft paper, markers, and art supplies to create a realistic platypus habitat mural. Encourage the use of natural materials like leaves and rocks, which can be attached to the paper. Add toy animals or figurines to complete the habitat, giving preschoolers a chance to explore what a real-life habitat looks like.

Sensory Experiment: ‘Feeling the Vibration’
Materials needed: an aluminum pie pan, a bowl, water, a spoon, and a tuning fork (optional).

Platypuses have the unique ability to detect vibrations in the water with their sensitive bills. This activity allows preschoolers to experience something similar. Fill the bowl with water and place the aluminum pie pan in the center. Ask children to tap the spoon gently against the pan, creating ripples in the water. If you have a tuning fork, gently strike it against a hard surface and place it in the water, watching how the vibrations create a similar effect. Encourage children to touch the water and feel the tiny vibrations produced by the spoon or tuning fork.

Incorporating Science into Storytime:
Materials needed: age-appropriate books about platypuses.

Reading books about platypuses is a fantastic way to spark children’s interest in science while developing their reading skills. Some popular titles include “Platypus: The Extraordinary Story of How a Curious Creature Baffled the World” by Ann Moyal or “Platypus! A Playful Look at the Surprising Science Hidden in Nature” by Ginjer L. Clarke. Read these books aloud, referring to the illustrations to explain the scientific concepts behind the platypus’s unique traits.

Platypus Learning Pack

You are invited to download the Platypus pack – learning printables for preschool and kindergarten children. Use this resource with clear true-to-life images and photographs to create hands-on science activities for your students. Children will learn stages of the platypus life cycle, and parts of a platypus, practice sequencing skills, and work to improve their concentration and fine motor skills. This resource will come in handy when exploring the Australia/Oceania unit and learning about vertebrates and mammals.

This resource contains a ‘Platypus life cycle’ poster, worksheet, 3-part cards, and Parts of a Platypus printables. This printable will be a great addition to your shelf activities if you are planning to talk about Australia and have students who are fascinated with mammals and animals that are different from all the other creatures in their class.

Here is what’s included

Platypus life cycle diagram
Platypus life cycle 3 part cards
Platypus life cycle coloring, cutting, and pasting worksheet (color and blackline)
Platypus life cycle tracing strips
Platypus life cycle information cards
Parts of the Platypus diagram
Parts of the Platypus diagram minus labels
Parts of the Platypus labels
Parts of the Platypus information cards
Parts of the Platypus tracing & independent writing worksheet
Parts of the Platypus student booklet (independent writing)
Platypus characteristics color poster
Platypus characteristics black line poster
Platypus characteristics mat
Platypus characteristics color cards
Platypus characteristics tracing & coloring student booklet
Platypus characteristics student booklet
Platypus information poster
My Book About Platypuses
Platypus Food vs. Preditors sorting cards
Platypus anatomy diagram adjective activity.

Age: Preschool ages 3 – 6 years

Subjects and uses in the classroom: Mammals study, Animals of Australia, Nature Table, Science Centers, Fine motor, Prewriting.

Three-Part Cards:
These cards are an excellent tool for building vocabulary and improving reading skills. They consist of three parts: a beautiful picture of the platypus, a label with the corresponding word, and a control card that shows both the image and word together. The child can match the label to the picture, reinforcing their knowledge and understanding of the platypus’s appearance and characteristics.

Information Cards:
Informative and visually appealing information cards provide key details about the platypus’s life cycle, anatomy, and unique characteristics. These cards contain concise yet comprehensive descriptions suitable for young learners. Children can read these cards with guidance or use them for research and independent study.

Diagram:
Visual representation is crucial for understanding complex concepts. A detailed diagram of the platypus helps children grasp the different parts of its body, such as the bill, webbed feet, and electroreceptor-filled snout. This diagram serves as a visual aid to reinforce the information presented in the information cards.

Student Booklet:
The student booklet enhances the learning experience by allowing children to apply their newfound knowledge creatively. It provides opportunities for coloring, drawing, and writing about the platypus’s life cycle, anatomy, and characteristics. This hands-on approach deepens their understanding while nurturing fine motor skills and creativity.

By utilizing these Montessori-inspired printables, children can develop a love and appreciation for the diverse and extraordinary creatures that inhabit our world. The unique nature of the platypus makes it an excellent subject for young learners, as it challenges their understanding and ignites their curiosity. Whether at home or in a classroom, this printable set provides a holistic learning experience that promotes independent exploration and understanding of one of nature’s most incredible creatures – the platypus.

Recommendations

Parts of a Platypus – Gather books on Australian animals for children to explore. Print posters and label cards on cardstock and laminate. Cut individual label cards.

Attach clear velcro to the poster without labels and label cards. Velco will come in especially handy if you decide to take your work outdoors. Having an additional challenge for little fingers is always welcomed when working with young children!

Present the poster – name all parts and invite the students to share their thoughts on the various functions of each part. Then read each label and invite the student to match it to the corresponding part of the platypus’ body.

Life Cycle poster – print on cardstock and laminate. Present all stages of the life cycle. Invite the children to retell them or tell their own story that features all the stages.

3-part cards – Print on cardstock and laminate if you wish to preserve colors and card quality for future use. Place picture cards in a column and invite the children to match the picture to the picture and the word to the word.

Life cycle line art – supply scissors, glue, and coloring pencils. Invite the student to color and cut cards and glue them into the correct sequence.

Tracing and coloring worksheets – print on cardstock and laminate. Supply an erasable pen. Invite the child to trace the words and color corresponding images. Alternatively, print pages on regular printing paper and slide them into plast ic pockets.