Writing Activities: Year 6

Flying squirrel

Despite their name, flying squirrels don’t actually fly, but glide. When they leap between trees, they spread their body into a square shape, using a parachute-like membrane that stretches from wrist to ankle. They can cover as much as 150 feet in a single glide with excellent accuracy. They use their wide, fluffy tails for steering and braking, and for slowing down so that they don’t hit their target tree too fast. They are nocturnal creatures, ‘flying’ and foraging through the forest at night.

In this clip, we will see the flying squirrel in action.

Literacy Idea

Using the information from the clip and information found here from nwf.org, create a fact file on flying squirrels.

Try to include the following information:

• Where they can be found
• Foods they like to eat
• Their size and weight
• How they travel through the forest
• Any other facts you find interesting

Wider Curriculum Idea

On your fact file, draw two pictures of the flying squirrel – one showing what it looks like when not gliding through the air, and one showing what it looks like when its parachute-like body sails through the forest.