Legs and Wings

What Are Legs and Wings?

• Legs and wings are special body parts that animals use to move from one place to another.
• While many animals use legs to walk on land, others use wings to fly through the air.
• These parts are designed differently depending on where the animal lives and how it finds food.

How Animals Use Their Legs

• Walking and Running – Animals like horses, dogs, and humans use their legs to travel on the ground.
• Hopping and Jumping – Kangaroos and frogs have very strong back legs that help them leap great distances.
• Climbing – Monkeys and squirrels use their legs and claws to grip onto trees and climb high.
• Balance – Legs help animals stand upright and keep their bodies steady while moving.

How Animals Use Their Wings

• Flying – Birds, bats, and many insects use wings to lift their bodies into the sky.
• Gliding – Some animals use their wings to float on air currents without flapping them constantly.
• Protection – Many insects fold their wings over their bodies to stay safe from rain or enemies.
• Swimming – Some birds, like penguins, use their wing-like flippers to "fly" through the water instead of the air.

Legs and Wings Examples

• An ant has six thin legs to crawl over soil and rocks.
• An eagle has powerful wings to soar high and spot its prey.
• A grasshopper has long back legs for jumping and small wings for short flights.
• An ostrich has very long, strong legs for running fast because it cannot fly with its wings.

Lesson Summary

• Legs and wings are important tools that help animals explore their environment.
• Legs are mostly used for movement on land, while wings are mostly used for movement in the air.
• Each animal has the type of legs or wings that best suit its lifestyle and home.