Free Printables About the World’s Smartest Animals
Published:
September 21, 2020
Contributor:
Jeannette Tuionetoa
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The intelligence of some animals amazes the human. If your kids love animals then they will enjoy learning about them with these free printables about the world’s smartest animals.
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God has created animals in a manner that they are adapted to their environment. Their capacity to think, create, build, and react to situations is astonishing.
Are animals important to God?
When we think of how He has shared so much about them with us in his Word, we can’t help but take note of their importance.
God communicates, guides, and even takes care of the animals in accordance with his word.
God reminded Jonah that He would spare 120,000 people but, according to Jonah 4:11, He also spared “many animals.” God cared/cares about animals.
Obviously the animals were guided by God somehow to migrate towards Noah’s ark. Noah didn’t go searching for them. They knew to come by God’s grace.
The Bible shows us that God feeds the animals – in Psalm 104:14 we see that God causes the grass to grow and verse 27 tells us that animals wait for God to feed them in due season.
Of course, God cares for animals. everything that has breath will praise Him! He cares for his Creation.
God didn’t just make the animals and leave them to fend for themselves in ignorance. God made animals with intelligence and some gave a little more intelligence than others.
These free printables about the world’s smartest animals will go great alongside your animal studies this year:
Top 10 Most Intelligent Animals in the World | The Mysterious World
10 Most Intelligent Animals | ThoughtCo.
Videos
Top 20 Most Intelligent Animals | WatchMojo
5 Smartest Animals on Earth – besides Humans | Wildlife X Team International
Rat
Yes, I have experience with a rat’s intelligence, although I don’t care to admit it. However, like a farm has rats, so does where I live. We left our house open a lot to get a breeze, but the closed screens weren’t enough to keep the rats out.
We learned quickly that we have to close all of the doors or else rats will just bulldoze through the flimsy screens and run through our house at night. Please don’t judge me, I live on an island and I am trying to cope. Anyway, moving on.
We used so many different traps, but they usually caught on quickly. We found that they were getting in the house via a dryer vent that led outside. They are relentless!
Many science experiences and hypotheses have used rats as lab animals to prove theories right or wrong. Apparently, rats can be taught tricks just like dogs. They can find their way through mazes and can solve problems.
Paper Rat Craft FREE Template | Kids Craft Room
How to Draw a Rat Easy drawing for kids | YZArts
Step-by-Step Tutorial How to draw a rat | Super Coloring
Fun with Poetry – Rats for Lunch | Paula’s Preschool and Kindergarten
Octopus (cephalopods)
These invertebrates are exceptionally clever. Did you know that three-fifths of an octopus’ neurons are on its arms? Their brain is also the largest of all invertebrates. They can use tools.
There was once an octopus named Otto who was able to throw rocks and spray water at the bright overhead lights of his aquarium in order to make them short out. Now THAT is smart!
FREE Octopus Do-A-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download) | Living Montessori Now
Adorable Octopus Ocean Animal FREE Craft for Kids | Simple Mom Project
Octopus FREE Printables (Wordsearch, Vocabulary, Activities, and more) | ThoughtCo.
Five Little Octopuses Activities and Craft | Kids Soup
Pigeon
I grew up in New York, where pigeons are known as rats with wings… not joking. While may of New Yorkers see pigeons as a nuisance, others pay astronomic sums to race their pigeons as a sport.
Scientists have conducted countless studies on their cognitive abilities which show they are actually pretty smart birds.
In 1995, pigeons were taught – successfully – to discriminate between Picasso paintings and Monet paintings. They can detect cancer in radiological images making their visual capabilities extraordinary.
Research has shown that pigeons have amazing visual, numerical, and memory abilities on par with some of the smartest species. Read more about pigeons here.
Pigeon Activities For Preschoolers | Pre-KPages
Mo Willems Inspired Handprint Pigeon FREE Craft For Kids | Simple Everyday Mom
Pigeon Book Lesson Plans (FREE FILE) | Mrs Wills Kindergarten
FREE Pigeon Coloring Page | Kid Coloring Pages
Squirrel
Squirrels are fast and catch on really quickly. They are known for burying their food in preparation for the winter, but that’s not just it.
These little animals also sometimes “pretend” to hide their food to trick other animals, so they won’t steal from their “real” food location.
Fun Facts About Squirrels | AweFilled Homemaker
FREE Printable Squirrel Hat Craft | Kids Craft Room
Squirrel Activities For Tots & Preschoolers w/ FREE Printables | Every Star is Different
FREE Squirrel Unit Study Resources | Lasting Thumb Prints
Pig
We hear about how smart animals, like pigs, are but many times we don’t get to experience it. Well, I have!
We have pigs. Lots of them. So, we have firsthand knowledge of just how smart they are. When our pigs are pregnant, we let them out of their pens to roam and have the babies. They come to our gate to eat every day at the same time.
They know my husband’s voice. He calls out the word “ma” a few times and they come quickly. (“Ma” means bread where I live.) My son does it now as well and they listen.
The pigs here aren’t the adorable ones that can keep as pets, but they are pretty awesome.
Worksheets and Printables All About Pigs
Easy DiY Pig Craft Activity for Preschool Kids | Simple Mom Project
Awesome Muddy Pig Sensory Art for Toddlers (FREE Printable) | Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
FREE Pig Unit Study and Lapbook Printables | HomeschoolShare
Crow
Yes, the crow is intelligent. We usually only see them around scarecrows or scavenging, yet they are smarter than we think. They are one of the most densely populated birds in the world.
Aside from a few parrot species, the crow has the largest “bird” brain. Crows have been known to use tricks to find food and to build their nests.
For example, they drop nuts in traffic lines to break the husks to access food. They also figured out that dropping nuts on rough surfaces can break them up to eat as food. Crows also use stones or pebbles to attack their predators.
FREE Crow Coloring Page | Animals Town
Crow FREE Printable Craft | Learn Create Love
FREE The Crow and the Pitcher Activities (Digital Version Included) | A Teachable Year
Sitting Crow Paper or Foam Craft FREE Template | Danielle’s Place
Elephant
Elephants are huge and majestic. Yet, that isn’t the only thing they are interesting in. They are super smart and are also very social animals. Elephants are even known to be one of the most faithful human companions.
Although we may only see elephants in herds or in zoos, there is a slew of things we don’t know about elephants that may surprise us. They can show a range of emotions like joy, playfulness, and sadness. They can mimic a range of sounds and can use tools for finding food.
Easy DIY Cut and Paste Elephant Craft for Kids | Simple Mom Project
FREE Printable Elephant Coloring Page | First Palette
Elephants Worksheet – FREE Science Downloadable Worksheets for Kids | Easy Science for Kids
FREE Elephants: Activities | KidZone
Elephant FREE Coloring Pages | Cool2BKids
Dolphin
If you have ever come in contact with dolphins, you will know how intelligent they are. They are also some of the most beautiful creatures on earth – totally my opinion, but I am sure others may agree.
Dolphins are the third smartest animals after humans and apes. They can express emotions and their brain only shuts down halfway when sleeping to stay aware of their surroundings. Dolphins are also the only marine animal that has passed the mirror test.
FREE Dolphin Science for K-1st | Mrs Thompson’s Treasures
Dolphin Facts for Kids and FREE Printables | Itsy Bitsy Fun
FREE Dolphin Unit Study and Lapbook | Homeschool Share
Apes
The family of apes includes chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, and bonobos. After humans, apes are the most intelligent animals in the world.
Like humans, apes have a notable social life and can express different types of emotions evident to those observing the community. They learn from their surroundings, use tools to make their own food and home even.
Apes can understand individuality, can learn words, human language, and can defend themselves. They are pretty amazing.
Apes – Larger and Intelligent Animals (Video and FREE Worksheets) | Easy Science for Kids
Chimpanzee
FREE Chimpanzee Coloring Printable | KidsActivities.com
Common Chimpanzee FREE Coloring Page | Super Coloring
Into the Forest with Jane Goodall! Video | SciShow Kids
All About Jane Goodall Worksheets & Activities + Rainforest Crafts | Surviving on a Teacher’s Salary
Orangutan
Orangutan FREE Printable Craft | Learn, Create, Love
Adopt An Orangutan ($15/Month) | Red Apes
The Orangutan Who Speaks Like A Human | BBCEarth
There are also other smart animals out there. Many of us probably own one – dogs. Man’s best friend is also one of the smartest animals out there. They show love, they miss us, they listen, they are able to learn tricks.
Many people say that parrots are smart as a young child, and of course, can mimic sounds and voices.
Learning animals is such a wonderful subject for our families. We can celebrate God’s creation and magnificent handiwork as we do it. Grab these free printables about the world’s smartest animals alongside your lessons to help.
