Activity overview
Science topics:
Animals, including humans
Put your class' observation skills to the test with these three wintry weather dwellers. This activity is great for promoting observation and discussion skills.
Run the activity
1. Show the three images above and ask everyone to come up with as many similarities and differences as they can. If they get stuck, prompt them to think about:
- appearance
- what they do
- where they might be found
2. Then, everyone needs to decide which one is the odd one out and why. Encourage a reason for every answer and there is no wrong answer!
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How to run Odd One Out activitiesBackground science
The animals featured are a grey squirrel, a Mongolian wolf and a reindeer. None of these animals hibernate over winter and so must find food to survive. The squirrel relies on hidden stores laid down in autumn, the wolf will continue to hunt, and reindeer use their hooves to paw back the snow revealing lichen (a type of moss) beneath.
Take it further
Explore a range of noctural animals who hunt at night with another Odd One Out activity Spooky animals.
Find out how winter weather affects British plants and animals with this BBC Bitesize video.