Objective
By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand the concept of hibernation and identify animals that hibernate during winter.
Materials and Prep
- Paper and crayons
- Pictures or books about hibernating animals
- Optional: Animal costumes or props (e.g., bear ears, squirrel tail)
Activities
- Introduction: Begin by discussing winter and how some animals sleep during this season. Show pictures or read books about hibernating animals.
- Animal Charades: Have the student act out different hibernating animals while others guess which animal it is. Encourage them to imitate the movements and sounds of the animals.
- Art Activity: Ask the student to draw their favorite hibernating animal and explain why they chose it. They can use crayons to color their drawing.
- Movement Game: Create an obstacle course using pillows, blankets, or other soft materials to represent a cozy hibernation den. Have the student pretend to be a hibernating animal and navigate through the course without waking up.
- Discussion: Sit down with the student and ask them questions about hibernation, such as why animals hibernate and what they do to prepare for hibernation.
Preschool Grade Talking Points
- "In winter, some animals sleep a lot. This is called hibernation."
- "Hibernating animals find a safe place to sleep, like a cozy den or a hole in the ground."
- "Bears are one example of animals that hibernate. They eat a lot of food before winter and then sleep until spring."
- "Other animals that hibernate include squirrels, bats, and groundhogs."
- "During hibernation, animals slow down their breathing and heart rate to save energy."
- "When spring comes, hibernating animals wake up and come out of their dens to find food and play."