Hey there! Squeaks and I love having fun with our friends at the fort. It got me thinking about the special names we have for different groups of people and animals. For example, a group of kids with the same teacher is called a class, and the people we live with, like our family, are called just that—a family!
Did you know that animals have special group names too? You might have heard some of them before. Let’s explore a few:
Animals like horses, cattle, and deer move in groups called herds. These animals usually have hooves, which are tough coverings on their feet that help protect them.
When you see a big group of birds, like geese, ducks, or chickens, they’re called a flock. Birds that live, travel, or eat together often form flocks.
Fish also hang out in groups called schools. The word “school” comes from a Dutch word that means “crowd,” so a school of fish is like a crowd of fish!
Sometimes, animal group names describe where they live. For example, bees live in a hive, so a group of bees is called a hive too. Animals like snakes, rabbits, and mice live in nests, so their groups are called nests.
Rats have many group names, such as colony, pack, swarm, horde, and even mischief!
Let’s play a guessing game! I’ll give you an animal, and you try to guess what their group is called.
Clams and oysters live buried in the ocean. Do you think a group of them is called a bed, an army, or a flock? If you guessed bed, you’re right! They live in cozy patches of sand, so we call them beds.
How about prairie dogs? They live in burrows, which are like underground streets. Is their group called a herd, a town, or a troop? If you said town, you got it! They use burrows like streets in their town.
Now, let’s think about lions. They’re often called the “King of the Beasts.” Do you think a group of lions is called a bed, a swarm, or a pride? If you guessed pride, you’re correct! People thought lions looked proud, so we call their group a pride.
These are just a few of the cool animal group names out there. Ask a grown-up to help you find out the name of your favorite animal’s group. Let us know what you learn!
Thanks for joining me at SciShow Kids! If you have a question, ask a grown-up to help you leave a comment or send us an email at [email protected].
Animal Group Name Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt around your home or neighborhood to find animals. When you spot an animal, try to guess what their group name is. For example, if you see a bird, think about what a group of birds is called. You can use a notebook to write down the animals you see and their group names. Later, ask a grown-up to help you look up any group names you don’t know.
Create Your Own Animal Group: Use toys or drawings to create your own animal group. Choose your favorite animal and decide what their group name would be if you could make one up. Think about where they live or what they do that might inspire a fun name. Share your new group name with a friend or family member and explain why you chose it.
Animal Group Storytime: Imagine a story where different animal groups come together for a big adventure. What would happen if a pride of lions, a school of fish, and a flock of birds all met? Draw pictures or write a short story about their adventure. Think about how they might work together or what challenges they might face.
