This Koala Unit Study has all you need to learn about Koalas in a fun way with videos, crafts, printables and even an interactive quiz!
The most enjoyable way to learn about something is to explore it from every angle and in every way possible. With this Koala Unit Study, your children AND you will enjoy learning about Koalas as you watch videos, read books, do crafts and printables and even make food together. Have fun!
In the printables section there is no end to keep everyone busy; find word scrambles, word searches, I spy, how many words can you find, coloring pages, mazes and guess the phrase.
There are also educational videos to watch, new books to check out, jokes to enjoy together and songs to learn.
Follow my Koalas Pinterest Board for dozens of ideas from all around the web! I am constantly finding new things to add so there will be new things all the time!
When is Save the Koala Day?
There isn’t an International or National Koala Day. It isn’t called that, anyway.
There is a Save The Koala Day on September 30 every year.
It is organized by the Australian Koala Foundation to save the koalas and their natural habitats and to raise awareness to prevent them from going extinct.
Other Unit Studies
Seasons and Holidays
Animals
Facts about Koalas
Koalas live in the wild only in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
They live in the tall eucalypt forests and low eucalypt woodlands there.
Koalas are arboreal, which means they live in trees.
They do come down out of the trees sometimes and if they need to, can run at speeds up to 18 miles per hour.
The Queensland koalas are smaller, lighter in color and have less fur than the ones in other areas. Females there are between 11 and 13 pounds and males are between 13 and 17.5 pounds. Females in other areas are an average of 18.5 pounds and males 26.5 pounds.
There are over 700 varieties of eucalypts but koalas are very picky eaters and they will only eat a few or even one in certain area.
They eat ½ to 1 kilogram of eucalyptus leaves every night. (A kilogram is 2.2 pounds.)
Forests can only support a certain number of koalas.
Koalas don’t normally need to drink because the eucalyptus leaves contain all of the moisture they need.
Their name “koala” is said to come from the Dharug people word that means “no water”.
Koalas are not bears. They are wrongly called that because they look a little like bears.
Koalas are marsupials. That means when they are born, they need to stay in their mother’s pouch.
A male koala is called a buck.
A female koala is called a doe.
Baby koalas are called joeys.
A joey is less than an inch long when it is born.
It is also born blind, without hair and without ears.
A joey will stay in his mother’s pouch for about 6 months and then ride on her back or tummy for another 6 months.
A joey will leave to live on his or her own at 1-3 years old.
Females have 1 joey at a time. They may have one every year or it could be every 2-3 years.
In the wild, the average lifespan is 10 years.
The record age for a koala is a zoo koala named Sarah. She lived to be 23 years old.
Koalas have special paws with sharp claws and thumbs to grip the trees they climb and to hold the eucalyptus they eat.
Koalas are mostly nocturnal but they do sleep some at night and are awake some in the daytime too. The sleep 18-20 hours a day!
A group of koalas is called—nothing! There is no name for a group of koalas because they are not found in groups. They are solitary animals.
Koalas smell like a cough drop because of all of the eucalyptus they eat and many cough drops are made from eucalyptus.
Koalas have poor vision but excellent hearing and smell.
A buck has a scent gland on his chest to rub his scent on trees.
It isn’t legal to keep a koala for a pet anywhere, not even in Australia.
**When you think you know the facts, take the interactive quiz at the bottom of the post! 😊
Many Koalas are in trouble!
The koala is in danger of extinction because of land clearing for people’s homes, bushfires and diseases of the eucalyptus.
When they lose their habitat, they are in increased danger from dogs and cars.
Things we can do to help the Koalas.
If you live in Australia where a koala may live on your property, you would be able to protect their habitat. Most would not have that opportunity.
For others, you could Adopt a Koala through the Australian Koala Foundation. Disclaimer; I get nothing from this and know nothing about them. I am just providing this link for you to read more about it if you would like.
Videos about Koalas
Facts about Koalas
10 FACTS You Didn’t Know About KOALAS from Animal Wised 4:27 Narration while showing video of koalas
Cutest Koala Compilation Ever If you love koalas, you will enjoy watching this; just video clips of cute koalas with music. 3:59
Koala Facts For Kids | Aussie Animal Facts | Cute Koala Zookeeper talks about koalas while holding an adorable young koala. 4:25
All About Koalas for Kids: Koalas for Children – FreeSchool Narration with video clips 3:48
What sounds do Koalas Make?
Do you know what sounds a koala makes? I can’t say I have ever thought about it to tell you the truth! They make several different sounds.
You will hear a baby’s yips and squeaks and the crunching sound of eating their leaves in this video. What Noises Do Koalas Make? :48
In this one, you will hear the grunting, belching sound of an adult. Koala sounds :30
Songs
Koala Lalala | Koala | Animal Songs | Pinkfong Songs for Children (Has a few koala facts in it and koala pictures through the song some) 1:46
Animal Songs for kids | Koala Song (This song actually has koala facts in it.) 2:03
Kidzone – Koala Koala (A soft and quiet lullaby; words on the screen with very little animation) 2:28
FUNNY SONG #7: Paula the Koala (Just a fun nonsense song that has “koala” in it.) 1:39
Books
Some Jokes
Kids love jokes so I had to include some good ones here for them!
Printables
Koala I Spy Printables (2 levels plus 1 I Spy and Color)
Koala Word Search Printables (2 levels)
Koala Word Scramble Printables (2 levels)
Crafts and Activities
Paper Plate Koala Craft in the Jungle
Free Printable Koala Mask for Kids
Recipes
Easy way to decorate cookies to look like Koalas.
Koala Cake (and links to a couple more koala recipes)
How to Draw Koalas
Here is some instruction on how to draw koalas. They are all a little bit different and the outcome of what the koala looks like is a bit different so you can choose which you like.
How to draw a koala from art projects for kids
Draw cartoon koala from how 2 draw animals
Draw Koala Bears from wiki how fun
Test your knowledge on what you learned in this Koala Unit Study!
Koala Quiz
I found the facts for this post from the following sources
It is always good to cite your sources and if you would like to read more details, there is much more information and pictures at the links.
https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/koalas/facts
Be Sure to Pin so you can find it easily later!
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Cindy
Welcome! I am a wife, mother, mother-in-law, Grammy, daughter, sister and retired homeschooler. I enjoy writing about things I have learned over the years, sharing recipes and tips with others and making free printables for parents and teachers.
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