Grades 1–2 Daily Reading Activities: Animals

Animals come in countless shapes and sizes from tiny insects to massive whales. Each play an essential role in the ecosystem, helping to maintain balance. Here are five days of reading lessons that explore the animals of the world.

Day 1 activity

Let’s watch: Hidden Animals Watch the video Hidden Animals to learn more about animals and camouflage.

Discuss the video

What is camouflage, and how does it help animals survive? What kind of animal camouflage would you like to have?

Day 2 activity

Let’s reread: Enter at Your Own Risk   Meet the aye-aye. With its huge ears and bulging eyes, it's one of the weirdest animals you've ever seen. Join him to meet more of the weirdest, strangest, oddest-looking creatures in the animal kingdom. Download Enter at Your Own Risk

Take it further

Choose an activity to extend the fun.

Project: Make a unique animal

• Use boxes and other recycled materials to create a unique animal.
• Think of three words to describe your animal.
• Share your animal and words.

Response writing: Write a journal

• Imagine that you are an animal in the text. How do you feel about having unique abilities that some people describe as weird or unusual?
• Write or dictate a journal that tells how you feel. Start your journal with “Dear Diary.”
• Share your journal. Make sure to tell what makes you unique.

Family support Use this learning guide to walk your child through the lesson. Explore additional review & extend activities together.

Day 3 activity

Let’s watch: Ducklings Jump from Nest Watch the video Ducklings Jump from Nest to see newborn ducks leave their nest in a tree for the first time.

Discuss the video

Why do these ducks nest in a tree? What makes them leave the nest?

Day 4 activity

Let’s reread: Flying Jewels   Hummingbirds are the smallest birds. Some people call hummingbirds flying jewels. Read the story to find out more about them. Download Flying Jewels

Take it further

Choose an activity to extend the fun.

Project: Hum like a hummingbird

• Use a pencil to poke a small hole about 2-inches from one end of a paper tube.
• Wrap waxed paper tightly over the end of the tube and hold it in place with a rubber band. Be sure not to cover the small hole.
• Place the open end of the tube over your mouth and make a humming sound.
• Discuss how hummingbirds really “hum.”

Vocabulary & language: Explore describing words

• Look through the text to find the words thin, funny, and colorful.
• Think of more words to describe hummingbirds. For example, lively, tiny, or energetic.
• Draw a hummingbird shape on paper.
• Discuss other ways to describe hummingbirds. Write all suggested words around the hummingbird.

Day 5 activity

Let's review

This week you've learned about amazing animals. Read a story about fox cubs. Then make an animal trading card to share facts about an amazing animal. Use the books you read this week to help you!

Let’s read: Foxes   Read about a red fox that lives in the woods with her cubs. Download Foxes

Take it further

Extend the fun with an activity.

Hands-on activity: Make an animal trading card

• Make a trading card about your favorite animal.

Family support Play animal charades. Have children pretend to be an animal that they read about this week. Encourage them to think about how the animal would move, eat, and sleep. Guess which animal they are.

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Find more language arts activities for Grades 1-2. 

This blog, originally published in 2020, has been updated for 2025.