What Is a Donkey?
A donkey is part of the horse family. It has hair, breathes air and eats plants.
Donkeys need food, clean water, shelter and room to move.
Donkey
A donkey is a gentle farm animal. It has long ears, four hooves and a short mane. A donkey makes a loud sound called a bray.
Fun Facts About Donkeys
- A baby donkey is called a foal.
- A donkey makes a loud bray.
- Its long ears help it hear.
- Donkeys like to have animal friends.
Home, Food, and Movement
- Home: a field and dry shelter
- Food: grass, hay and plants
- Movement: walks, trots and runs
- Sound: brays
Easy Practice Sentences
Easy: I see a donkey.
Medium: The donkey has long ears.
Challenge: The donkey eats hay in the field.
Say each sentence aloud and point to the picture.
Activity Idea
Make a long-eared donkey picture.
- Draw a donkey with a large body.
- Add two long ears and four legs.
- Draw grass and a farm shelter.
- Tell a grown-up what sound the donkey makes.
This activity helps children draw, speak and learn about donkeys.
Donkey Body Parts
- Ears: help the donkey hear
- Nose: helps the donkey smell
- Mane: short hair along its neck
- Hooves: help the donkey walk
- Tail: helps swish away flies
Look and Think
- What colour is the donkey?
- Can you point to its long ears?
- Can you count four legs?
- Can you find its tail?
Learning Safely Around Donkeys
- Stay with a grown-up.
- Move slowly and speak quietly.
- Never stand behind a donkey.
- Ask before touching or feeding one.
- Wash your hands after visiting.
Compare and Think
- Donkey and horse: both have hooves. A donkey has longer ears.
- Donkey and goat: both eat plants. A donkey is usually bigger.
- Donkey and chicken: a donkey has hair. A chicken has feathers.
Donkey Words to Learn
- Foal: a baby donkey
- Bray: the sound a donkey makes
- Mane: hair along a donkey’s neck
- Hoof: the hard end of a donkey’s foot
- Farm: a place where people care for animals
Check understanding
Quick Questions
Say each answer aloud. Then check it with a grown-up.
Q1
What is a baby donkey called?
Answer
A baby donkey is called a foal.
Q2
What is a donkey’s loud call called?
Answer
A donkey’s loud call is called a bray.
Q3
What does a donkey eat?
Answer
A donkey eats grass, hay and plants.
Q4
Which body parts help a donkey hear?
Answer
Its long ears help it hear.