Free Life Cycle of a Hedgehog Worksheet for Kids
If you’re seeing baby hedgehogs in your garden, our life cycle of a hedgehog worksheet is a fun way for kids to learn more about these spiny creatures.
This set of free life cycle printables includes activities like word searches, labeling exercises, bubble maps, and creative writing prompts, all designed for 2nd to 4th graders.
It’s an engaging, no-prep resource perfect for last-minute lessons at home or in the classroom!
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Hedgehog life cycle worksheets for kids
Kids will love our free life cycle of a hedgehog printable set, packed with engaging activities designed to explore these unique creatures.
What’s included in the download?
Simply print the hedgehog worksheets below—they include 8 full pages.
The cover page offers a colorful introduction to the hedgehog life stages, sparking curiosity and setting the stage for an engaging learning experience.
The life cycle of a hedgehog poster provides a visual guide to the stages of a hedgehog’s life, making the concepts more accessible for young learners.
Hands-on activities, like labeling the parts of a hedgehog, allow kids to cut and paste labels, building fine motor skills while learning about hedgehog anatomy.
The label the parts of a hedgehog activity is hands-on and interactive, fostering fine motor skills as children cut and paste labels. It also deepens their understanding of the hedgehog’s physical characteristics.
Creative writing tasks encourage kids to use descriptive language, enhancing their ability to express ideas.
In addition, the hedgehog research activity helps children practice digital literacy by teaching them to navigate online sources for reliable information.
Categorization tasks guide children to think critically about hedgehog attributes, helping them organize their knowledge and deepen their understanding of these animals.
Open-ended activities invite kids to ask questions and explore their curiosity about hedgehogs and the natural world.
Hedgehog word search
The final worksheet is a fun hedgehog word puzzle, featuring vocabulary words that can be found in all directions—horizontally, vertically, forwards, and backwards.
For a helpful tip, try using a highlighter or circling found words without crossing out letters, as some letters may be part of multiple words.
Hedgehog vocabulary word list
- Ball – how hedgehogs curl up for protection
- Bird eggs – one of their favorite foods
- Curl – hedgehogs often curl up tightly
- Furzepig – an old nickname for hedgehogs
- Hibernate – they hibernate from October/November to March/April
- Mammal – their classification in the animal kingdom
- Nocturnal – active mostly at night
- Seventeen – representing the 17 different species of hedgehogs
- Snout – hedgehogs have a distinctive snout
- Spines – the prickly spines that protect them
- Berries – another favorite snack
- Blind – they are born blind
- Frogs – one of their prey items (see our life cycle of a frog worksheet!)
- Grass roots – a common part of their diet
- Hedgepig – a term for baby hedgehogs
- Insects – another staple of their diet
- Mushrooms – they snack on these, too
- Omnivore – hedgehogs eat both plants and animals
- Snails – a tasty treat for them
Have fun with all of our animal life cycle activities.
What is the life cycle of a hedgehog?
Hedgehogs go through several stages in their life cycle, from tiny, helpless hoglets to independent adults.
- Birth and Early Weeks: Hedgehogs are born in litters of 3 to 7 hoglets (baby hedgehogs), blind and covered with soft, white spines. At first, they rely completely on their mother for warmth and food.
- Growing Up: Over the first few weeks, hoglets stay close to their mother, nursing and gradually opening their eyes. As they grow, their spines darken and harden, providing protection.
- Becoming Independent: By six to eight weeks, hoglets are ready to venture out and start foraging. They learn to find insects, small invertebrates, and sometimes fruits to eat.
- Adolescence: As summer ends, young hedgehogs reach adolescence, becoming more self-sufficient. Their spines are now fully developed, and they may begin to search for their own territories.
- Hibernation: Hedgehogs are known for hibernating through the colder months. From November to March, they find a safe, warm spot to hibernate, conserving energy by lowering their body temperature and entering a dormant state.
- Adulthood and Breeding: At about one year, hedgehogs reach adulthood and are ready to breed. In the spring, they become active again, and females start new families, giving birth to the next generation of hoglets.
Hedgehogs live an average of 2-5 years in the wild, but some live even longer. Each spring, the cycle begins again, with new litters and fresh adventures.
We love incorporating the Life Cycles book into our studies—it’s a fantastic resource for exploring each stage in nature’s amazing cycles!
Best hedgehog books for kids
Here are some of our favorite hedgehog books for children to enjoy during lessons this fall:
- The Hodgeheg: This classic follows Max, a young hedgehog with a big dream of crossing the road safely to reach the park. It’s a heartwarming adventure that helps kids understand the challenges hedgehogs face in urban areas. Through Max’s journey, kids gain an appreciation for the protection these little creatures need.
- Hedgehugs: Meet Horace and Hattie, two lovable hedgehogs determined to share a hug despite their prickly spines. This story is perfect for younger readers, highlighting themes of friendship, teamwork, and problem-solving. With its charming illustrations, it’s a joy to read and a favorite in our home.
Both books bring hedgehogs to life in ways that kids will love and remember.
WANT ALL OUR LIFE CYCLE WORKSHEETS IN ONE PLACE?
Need to print later? Add this to your Pinterest board or share it on Facebook. You’ll have it handy whenever you’re ready to use it!
Get the free life cycle of a hedgehog printables here!
If you’re short on time, you can grab our complete set of 23 life cycle printables here for a small fee. With 247 pages covering 23 different life cycles (including this one), it’s a convenient, comprehensive resource for your studies!
Ready to grab your free printable? Just pop your name and email into the form below, and it’s all yours!
Last Updated on 7 November 2024 by Clare Brown