What Is a Koala?
A koala is a mammal with a pouch. A tiny joey grows safely inside its motherās pouch.
Koalas live in eucalyptus trees in Australia. The trees give them food and a place to rest.
Koala
A koala is a furry animal from Australia. It has round ears, a big dark nose and strong paws. Koalas live in trees.
Fun Facts About Koalas
- A baby koala is called a joey.
- A koala is not a bear.
- Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves.
- Koalas rest for many hours each day.
Easy learning for little ones
Talk and Move
Try one short prompt at a time. Children can point, speak or copy the movement.
- 1
Point to the koala's round ears.
- 2
Say ākoalaā and hug yourself gently.
- 3
Pretend to hold on to a tree branch.
Home, Food and Movement
- Home: eucalyptus trees in Australia
- Food: eucalyptus leaves
- Movement: climbs and walks along branches
- Sound: grunts, squeaks and bellows
Easy Practice Sentences
Easy: I see a koala.
Medium: The koala has round ears.
Challenge: The koala holds on to a tree branch.
Say each sentence aloud and point to the picture.
Activity Idea
Make a koala tree picture.
- Draw a tall tree with green leaves.
- Draw a koala holding a branch.
- Add round ears, paws and a dark nose.
- Tell a grown-up what your koala eats.
This activity helps children draw, speak and learn about a koalaās home.
Koala Body Parts
- Nose: helps the koala smell
- Ears: help it hear
- Paws: help it hold branches
- Claws: help it climb trees
- Fur: helps keep it warm
Look and Think
- Can you point to the round ears?
- What colour is the koala?
- Can you find its paws?
- What is the koala holding?
Learning Safely About Koalas
- Koalas are wild animals. Never go near one.
- Never touch or feed a koala.
- Stay with a grown-up at a wildlife park.
- Always follow the keeperās rules.
Compare and Think
- Koala and bear: both are furry, but a koala is not a bear
- Koala and kangaroo: both have pouches, but a koala climbs trees
- Koala and panda: both eat plants, but a koala eats eucalyptus leaves
Life in the Trees
A mother koala carries her joey in a pouch. Later, the joey rides on her back.
Koalas climb, eat and rest in trees. They spend lots of time sleeping.
Why Koalas Need Protection
Koalas need safe forests with plenty of trees.
People can protect and plant the trees that koalas need.
Koala Words to Learn
- Joey: a baby koala
- Pouch: a safe pocket for a joey
- Eucalyptus: a tree whose leaves koalas eat
- Claw: a sharp nail that helps with climbing
- Habitat: an animalās home
Check understanding
Quick Questions
Say each answer aloud. Then check it with a grown-up.
Q1
Is a koala a bear?
Answer
No. A koala is not a bear.
Q2
What does a koala eat?
Answer
A koala eats eucalyptus leaves.
Q3
What is a baby koala called?
Answer
A baby koala is called a joey.
Q4
Where does a koala live?
Answer
A koala lives in trees in Australia.