There is something about animals that is mystifying. Their strength is otherworldly, and we are in awe when we see it. These free printables and resources about the world’s strongest animals will help your kids learn all about these amazing animals and their strength.
What’s impressive is that the strength of an animal has more to do with the strength compared to their body weight than how strong the animal looks.
Everyone knows that a gorilla looks monstrously strong, yet without pointing it out, your kids may not see the strength of an ant. The ant holds a zillion (OK, maybe not a zillion) times its own weight.
It is fun to point this out to kids. Ask them to imagine for a moment if they could hold a zillion times their body weight. It puts the strength of ants into perspective.
The truth is that different animals have different types of strength. Some have brute strength, and others have immense power compared to their body weight. Brute strength is the ability to have great force, lift, drag, carry, or pull huge weights.
Some animals have this immense power compared to their size, and usually, those with tremendous power are really small.
When learning about the world’s strongest animals, don’t forget to ask them questions that make them think.
Which is stronger? A ding beetle or an African Bush Elephant.
See, the African Bush Elephant may be one of the largest animals on Earth, yet a beetle is much stronger. When considering the strength-to-weight ratio, much smaller animals can be much stronger than the larger animals.
Check out these free printables and resources about the world’s strongest animals:
Dung Beetle
Image by Harald Matern from Pixabay
The Dung Beetle is considered the strongest creature on Earth. The males can lift 1,141 times heavier than their body weight. So basically, it’s like us (a human) trying to carrying 80 tons of something. That’s crazy.
The dung beetles use their horns to fight each other. And yes, there is a reason they are called “dung” beetles. There are three different types of dung beetles.
They are dwellers, rollers, and tunnelers. The rollers shape dung into balls and roll the balls back to where they live. The tunnelers dig a tunnel to store the dung. Finally, the dwellers used to live inside the dung piles.
Dung Beetle Life Cycle Coloring FREE Pages | In All You Do
FREE Dung Beetle Tot & PreK-K Pack | In All You Do
Dung Beetle Life Cycle FREE Notebooking Pages | In All You Do
FREE Dung Beetle Emergent Readers | In All You Do
Grizzly Bear
Image by Orna Wachman from Pixabay
Grizzly Bears can lift over 1,102lbs/500kgs (0.8 times its body weight). They usually weigh between 400-800lbs, and they can stand up to about 10 feet in height.
What is the scariest part of the Grizzly? OK, its height and height are also quite horrifying. Yet, their 2.4-inch claws are a sight I would rather never see.
Facts About Grizzly Bears | National Wildlife Federation
7 Little Known Grizzly Bear Facts | Bear Smart
Grizzly Bear Facts for Kids! Elementary Unit Study Resources | The Homeschool Resource Room
How to Draw a Grizzly Bear | Easy Drawing Guides
Anaconda
Image by Denis Doukhan from Pixabay
The green anaconda is the largest and most massive known snake in the entire world. They can grow over 30 feet in length and can weigh up to 507lbs.
Are they scary? Umm, YES! They aren’t venomous, yet they coil their massive bodies around prey and squeeze it to death. They can squeeze large animals like wild pigs, caiman, even jaguars.
Preschool Rainforest Theme: All About Anacondas! | Artsy Momma
FREE Printable: Snakes 3 Part Cards | Trillium Montessori
Anaconda Snakes – FREE Easy Science Worksheets to Download | Easy Science for Kids
Elephant
Image by Thorsten Messing from Pixabay
African Bush Elephants are about 8 – 13 feet in height and can weigh up to 7 tons. They can lift to 9 tons, well over their body weight.
They are known for their amazingly long tusks, which can grow 2.5 meters and even weigh up to 45 kg. Their tusks are used for fighting other elephants, for digging, and to defend themselves from other animals.
Elephant FREE Unit Study | Homeschool Hideout
FREE Printable Elephant Unit | Unit Study Ideas
Elephants FREE Animal Study and Lapbook | Homeschool Share
Science Study: Elephants | Adventures in Mommydom
Musk Ox
Image by Simon Steinberger from Pixabay
Ever heard the saying “strong as an ox?” That is precisely what an ox is… like a mac truck. The oxen body weight length is anywhere between 2-2.3meters and can weigh up to 1,410lbs (640kgs). They also can carry up to 1,763lbs (800kgs).
Oxen can carry this large amount of weight through extended periods, long distances, and rough terrain.
FREE Musk Ox Printable | SuperColoring
Musk Ox Information | TundraAnimals.net
Discover Musk Ox Color PDF | Musk Ox Farm
Tiger
Tigers are the strongest and largest of all the cats in the world. Sadly, they are endangered, and even three sub-species are already extinct. The Siberian Tiger is the largest tiger ever and measures 8 feet (2.5 meters) long and around 661lbs (300 kg).
FREE Zoo Animals Research Report – Tiger Reports – Nonfiction Read and Writing | Keeping My Kinders Busy
21 Surprising Tiger Facts Prove These Big Cats Are Amazing | Animal Planet
12 Incredible Facts About Tigers | Unbelievable Facts
Eagle
Image by Steppinstars from Pixabay
Eagles can lift and fly with about four times its body weight. It can do this by the way if it’s size, wingspan, and powerful sharp-talon filled feet.
And of course, the eagle is the national symbol of our great country.
All About Bald Eagles for Kids: Animal Videos for Children | FreeSchool
Bald Eagle Encounters… Bald Eagle Study Resources | Walking in High Cotton
The Eagle Project: A Student-Led, Interest Based Inquiry | Mrs Myers Kindergarten
Bald Eagle Research- FREE | Mary Lirette
Gorilla
Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay
Gorillas are the most giant apes in the world. These apes can weigh up to 440lbs (200 kg) but can lift almost 4400 lbs (2000kgs), which is their bodyweight ten times.
They can reach over 6 feet in length. Their arms alone can reach up to 8 feet (2.6 meters) Gorillas can carry up to 2 tons or ten times their own body weight. They are said to be 15 times stronger than the average human being.
FREE Gorilla Coloring Pages | Preschool Crafts
Gorilla Mom And Infant | Rib Ticklers
Goodnight, Gorilla FREE Unit Study | Meet Penny
FREE Gorilla Printable Craft | Learn Create Love
Leafcutter Ant
OK, this leafcutter ant is only 2 centimeters long, yet it is the 3rd strongest insect in the world with the ability to lift and carry 50 times its own weight in its jaws for long distances.
It is pretty amazing. Imagine pulling a truck with your teeth for over 9000 feet. I can’t even think about that without feeling tired.
Leafcutter Ant Facts | Rainforest-Alliance.org
13 Leafcutter Ant Facts for Kids | Facts Just for Kids
FREE Leafcutter Ant Printable Craft | Learn Create Love
Amazing Facts About the Leaf Cutter Ant | One Kind Planet
Rhinoceros Beetle
Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay
A rhinoceros beetle can lift about 850 times its body weight. Here is some perspective. If an elephant were as strong as the rhinoceros beetle, it would carry 850 elephants on its back!
Facts Rhinoceros Beetles | National Wildlife Federation
Rhinoceros Beetles (FREE Printable Page) | Backyard Buddies
14 Rhinoceros Beetle Facts for Kids | Facts Just for Kids
Videos to go alongside your lessons:
Travel the World through LIVE Animal Cams
The Strongest Animals in the World | Trend Max
Top 10 Strongest Animals | BBC Earth Unplugged
Some amazingly strong animals lift many times their body weight, and others can haul thousands of pounds without batting an eye.
Take some time with your students this year to explore the most strong creatures on Earth. These free printables and resources about the world’s strongest animals on Earth will help.
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Jeannette is a wife, mother and homeschooling mom. She has been mightily, saved by grace and is grateful for God’s sovereignty throughout her life’s journey. She has a Bachelor in English Education and her MBA. Jeannette is bi-lingual and currently lives in the Tongan Islands of the South Pacific. She posts daily freebies for homeschoolers!
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