Animals in Winter

2nd & 3rd Grades 

This week we will look at winter and learn/review how animals prepare for cold weather. 

During the winter, animals are concerned primarily with two things:  keeping warm and finding food.  Unlike summertime, food tends to be scare during the winter months. How do animals adapt to this change?

1. Migrate to a warmer climate.
2. Store food.
3. Change eating habits.
4. Grow heavy winter coat.
5. Hibernate.

Literature Selection:  A Long Winter's Nap
Tumble Time:  Lewis Cardinal's First Winter
Brain Pop:  Hibernation (with whole group review)

Vocabulary:  hibernate, migrate, dormant, metabolism, adapt

Activities:  Lewis Cardinal's First Winter review, activities and games on Tumble Books
Hibernation activity: Locate the 16 hidden animals.
Extension activities (3rd)
Choose and article:
1)  http://animals.mom.me/raccoons-adapt-during-winter-9671.html
How to raccoons make it through the winter?  Do they truly hibernate? What is torpor? 
2) http://www.lpzoo.org/blog/what-do-squirrels-do-winter
How to raccoons make it through the winter?  Do they truly hibernate? How does shivering help a squirrel in the winter?