Summary
A sloth may move only a few feet per minute — and that slowness is a survival strategy. Kenny Coogan explains how a low-energy diet, a slow metabolism, and stillness that hides them from predators all make being slow the sloth's secret superpower.
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Ages 7+
TED-Ed lessons move quickly and use rich vocabulary — best for grades 5–6 (some grade 4 with support). No content concerns; preview once for pace.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Being slow sounds like a weakness — this lesson shows why it keeps sloths alive.
- Why does a sloth move so slowly?
- How does being slow actually help a sloth stay safe?
- What does a sloth eat, and how does that connect to its slowness?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: sloth, metabolism, energy, camouflage.
Try it: List two ways a sloth's slowness helps it survive. Then name an animal that survives by being fast.