January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Hibernation: For most animals finding enough food in winter can be difficult when
the main source of food like insects or green plants is in short supply.
Some animals solve this problem by hibernating. Hibernation is a deep sleep that
helps them to save energy and survive the winter without eating much.
During hibernation the animal’s body temperature drops, and its heartbeat and its
breathing slow down so that it does not use much energy.
Hibernating animals get ready for their winter sleep by eating extra food and
storing it as body fat which they then use as energy while sleeping. There are
two types of fat – regular white fat and brown fat. The brown fat forms patches
near the animal’s brain, heart and lungs. It sends a quick burst of energy to warm
these organs first when it is time to wake up.
Some of the hibernating animals include fish, frogs and turtles, which have no
way to keep warm during winter. They shelter under logs, rocks and fallen leaves
in the water. When the weather gets cold, they move down to the bottom of lakes
and ponds and some even burrow into the mud.
Some insects also hibernate and to keep warm they find holes in the ground,
under tree bark or in rotting logs. Can you name some of the animals that
hibernate in the winter?
Some hibernators go into such a deep sleep that it is almost impossible to wake
them, and they appear to be dead.
If the temperature falls too low some animals will awaken slightly and shiver to
warm up a bit. Even when the weather is severe, hibernators may wake up for a
short period every few weeks to use their ‘toilet rooms’ and eat a little food if it is
available.
You tube video in hibernation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BstmnCYwAE8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FonCq9YJJxw
You tube also has a lot of videos on different types of artic animals and animals
that hibernate.
SOCIAL
Build a Cave (this is a good way to introduce the topic)
Build a cave using a sheet put over a table. Fill the cave with stuffed animals. Sit inside
the cave and discuss different animals that hibernate. What it means to hibernate. What
kind of animals we would like to be. Target: peer interaction
Animal Cave (cave variation)
Materials needed: A box for a cave or you can cover a tall table with a blanket! Put
some of your kitchen/housekeeping items in there. What fun to play house in a cave!
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Perhaps instead of a play stove, you could have a campfire made from blocks or paper
towel tubes or actual firewood! Target: cooperation
Find the Hibernating Mouse
In advance draw out and laminate 1 small mouse and 1 house shape (each of different
color). Make sure your mouse is SMALLER than the house shape!
Tell the children they are going to help find the hibernating mouse! Tell the children to
close and cover their eyes! You hide the mouse under one of the houses.
Tell the children to look now. Ask them to join with you in saying "Little Mouse, Little
Mouse, where is your house?" Ask one child which house you should look under.
(Encourage them to NAME the color, not just point, to reinforce color recognition*).
"Little Mouse, are you under the orange house?" Have the child lift up the orange
house. "NO! Where could she be?"
Continue with each child until found. Keep playing until every child has had a turn.
* Make the houses to work on the skill you are working on such as letters, numbers,
shapes, etc. (Little Mouse, are you in the "A" house? Are you in the "2" house? Are you
in the "star" house")? Variation: you can do this activity with a bear and a cave. Target:
taking turns
The Mitten-a hands-on version!
Materials Needed: A copy of the book The Mitten by Jan Brett, or you can find it on you
tube and a large adult sized mitten, pictures of the animals from the story mounted on
craft sticks. There are 8 animals in the story. Before you read or listen to the story, show
the children the animal sticks. Pass them around one at a time. State what the animal is
and whether or not it hibernates!
Give one stick animal to each child. Ask each child which animal they have. Tell them it
is their job to listen for you to say the name of their animal.
Explain that as you read the story and say the name of their animal, they should place
their animal in the mitten that is in the middle of the circle area. Target: cooperation
Where do I sleep?
Materials Needed: Pictures of animals and pictures of the homes they sleep in. Frog-log Snake--lake and mud Turtle--mud Ground Hog--the ground (of course!)--his burrow
Squirrel--tree trunk Bat--Cave
Show the homes and ask the children if they can tell what they are.
Show the animals and ask the children to identify them.
Hand out the animals to the children. Place the home animals on the floor in the circle.
Ask the children, one at a time, where an animal would live. This is a group activity, so
don't put any one child on the spot (i.e. Where does YOUR animal sleep in winter?".
Instead, say "Cheryl, which animal do you have? Children, where do you suppose a
snake would sleep?" Have the child place the animal on the home. Target: team work
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Puppet Show!
Materials Needed: A winter animals puppet!
Introduce the puppet to the children. "Hi everyone! I'd like you to meet my friend___!"
Give the children time to introduce themselves or just say "Hi" to each child with your
puppet!
Puppet: Shivers a lot and looks around at the children.
You: _______, you're shaking. Are you scared?
Puppet: "No, I'm not scared. I'm FREEZING! Why am I so cold today?
You: Perhaps because of the season it is. Boys and girls, do you remember what
season it is, the one that comes after fall?
Puppet: OH! Is it REALLY winter already? That's why it's cold outside! You know, a lot
of my friends have to get ready for the cold. Boys and girls, what do you do to get ready
for the cold?
Encourage the children for winter clothing answers such as "What do you put on your
hands in winter so that they don't get too cold? What else do you wear in winter (coats,
scarves, boots, etc.).
Puppet: Those are great ways to stay warm! My animal friends do different things to get
ready. Want to know what they do?
Puppet: Let's listen! Our teacher is going to read us a story about winter animals!
Have the puppet sit on your lap, or near you. We sometimes have to put the puppet
away at story time if it becomes too much of a distraction! You can tell them that the
puppet will be in the library for them to play with later on in the morning!
A great story to follow up this puppet show with is When Winter Comes by Nancy Van
Laan. However, any winter animal story will do! Target: peer interaction
Parachute- move like an animal
Materials Needed: Parachute or large sheet
Children seem to innately want to shake a parachute as soon as they touch it! Do some
crazy shaking to allow them the time to get the excitement of using the parachute out of
their system!
Tell them they are going to move the parachute up and down the way an animal would
go. Name and animal and ask if it moves fast or slow. Then move (or shake) the
parachute accordingly. Examples; snake, skunk, bear, sloth, elephant, bird, frog, etc.
EXTENSION: Have soft, stuffed animals ready. When done with above parachute
game, tell the children that it is winter and the animals need to go back to their homes to
sleep. Tell them to wait until you say go before they shake and that you need their help
counting the animals.
Have them count together with you as you toss each animal on the parachute.
Once they are all there, say "GO HIBERNATE" and start shaking. When the animals are
all off the parachute, collect them and you play again! Target: cooperation
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
PHYSICAL
Fine Motor
Animal Paw Prints
Materials Needed: Brown finger paint, paper
How many different types of animal tracks can they come up with? Encourage different
ways of finger painting today! They can paint animal tracks by using the outside part of
their fists, their fingertips, their knuckles...make lots and lots of animal tracks! Target:
finger manipulation
Playdough Porcupines Sorting
Materials Needed: Playdough, toothpicks or Popsicle stick cut in half if toothpicks would
be a safety issue with the children in your center and wiggle eyes.
Children should manipulate dough and make it into different shapes. After a short while,
encourage them to make a shape for their porcupine. Talk about what porcupines look
like and discuss their quills. Have children place wiggle eyes on their playdough shape
and then, one at a time, place quills (toothpicks) all over it from its "neck" to its back.
Show the children a picture of a porcupine. Target: grasping
Here is a Cave
Here is a cave. (bend fingers to form cave)
Inside is a bear. (put thumb inside fingers)
Now he comes out. (thumb out)
To get some fresh air.
He stays out all summer
in sunshine and heat.
He hunts in the forest
for berries to eat. (move thumb in circle)
When snow starts to fall
He hurries inside.
His warm little cave (thumb in)
And there he will hide.
Snow covers the cave
like a fluffy white rug. (cover with other hand)
Inside the bear sleeps
all cozy and snug.
Target: finger manipulation
Gross Motor
Follow the Footprints
Materials Needed: Animal footprints made from construction paper; tape
Place the footprints around the room. Tape them to the floor or carpet so they are not
slippery.
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Have the children follow the footprints by hopping from one to the next.
VARIATIONS: Have the children choose a winter animal name and then move from
footprint to footprint the way THAT named animal would move (scurry like a mouse, hop
like a rabbit, etc.) VARIATION: You can also make a matching game using the same
footprints and a picture of the animal that makes that print.
You can find what different footprints look like on the internet. Use them as a pattern for
cutting out different footprints. Target: balance or matching depending on how you
implement this activity
Grizzly Bear game
Children are all curled up on the floor like bears in a cave. Provider says (in a quiet
voice):
Grizzly Bear oh Grizzly Bear is sleeping in his cave.
Grizzly Bear oh Grizzly Bear is sleeping in his cave.
Be so very quiet, oh so very quiet...if you shake him, if you wake him, (in a loud voice)
HE WILL GET QUITE MAD!
Children come up, and making bear claws with their hands, all GRRRRROWL!
Target: coordination
Parachute--Catch the Animal
Materials Needed: Parachute (or large sheet to use as one) and stuffed animals.
With children holding handles or ends of parachute, show them how to raise the chute
from their waist to over their head while all counting together to 4 (1, 2, 3, 4...hold it up a
little more---poem to use!).
Then count to 4 slowly as you all lower the chute to your waists. Practice a few more
times.
Instruct them to do it again, counting slowly, so you can put toys under the parachute
but they should NOT let go of the parachute.
When done, tell them that when they count to 4 and the chute is up high, you will call
one of their names and that person and ONLY that person, should run UNDER the
parachute, grab a stuffed animal and come back out. Remind them that they need to do
this QUICKLY!
Give each child a turn.
EXTENSION: If time allows, place some of the animals ON the parachute and try to
shake them all off! Target: coordination
Animals-Get to Your Homes!
Materials Needed: Lots and lots of stuffed animals and 3 large bins, boxes or baskets.
Place the stuffed animals in three piles on one side of the room.
Place a large bin, box or basket on the other side of the room. Have the children run
together to a pile, choose an animal and get it to its home on the other side of the room!
Variation: Have the children move like different animals as they move from one pile to
another. Target: coordination
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Going on a Bear Hunt
Materials needed: ANY version of this song (many versions on you tube) and a large
space if you want the children to get up and move around. If you only have a small
space then have the children sit as you act out the story.
There are two ways you can do this with the children!
1. Don't use anything elaborate. The children they will be using their imaginations.
As they go on their hunt, be sure they are all going around the room in the same
direction together. When the video instructs them to "cross the river", "climb the tree"
etc. tell them they should stop where they are and act it out.
2. Or, you can, in advance, set up the different areas they need to go...use a balance
beam for a bridge, chairs for a boat, meet at a specific wall (perhaps you've drawn a
large tree or bunch of small trees on paper and hung them on the wall in one area?!!)
and then follow the instructions of the story.
3. If you space is small then just have the children sit while they are acting out the story.
Target: coordination
Hibernation Freeze Dance
Tell the children that they should dance when the music is playing.
When you STOP the music they should FREEZE and LISTEN!
You will say the name of an animal. If it is an animal that hibernates, they should all
drop to the floor and pretend to sleep until the music starts again.
*When you say the name of the animal, ask if it is a hibernating animal. "Ground Hog!
Does it hibernate? (give time for them to answer) then, YES, they do! Good night
Ground Hogs!"
or "PUPPY DOG! Does it hibernate? (give time to answer) NO, they do not! Keep
dancing! (and put the music back on).
EXTENSION: In advance, print pictures of hibernating and non-hibernating animals.
When you stop the music, show a card. Ask the children which animal it is. Once
identified, ask if it hibernates and continue as described above. Target: listening
INTELLECTUAL
Cognitive
What Am I?
Play this guessing game with the children relating to Winter Animals.
I am small. I am white. I have long ears. I hop. What Am I?
Ask similar questions for each animal that you have talked about this winter. Use the
pictures from the Hibernation Freeze Dance game to assist the children in guessing the
animal. Target: labeling
Storing Fat for Winter
Materials Needed: Ziploc baggies, lard (such as Crisco), ice cubes.
Put a large amount of Crisco in a baggie. Flatten Crisco to a layer in the baggie and
seal. Make several of these bags.
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Give each child an ice cube and discuss winter animals that sleep (hibernate) through
the winter. They eat a lot in summer and fall and the fat keeps them warm.
Now give a few of them a Crisco baggie. Lay it flat on their open palm. Place the ice
cube on top. They should not feel the ice. This is similar to how animals' fat keeps them
warm from the cold weather. Target: cause and effect
Keeping Warm
Fill 2 containers with ice water. Have your children put one hand in a bucket. Have them
put the other hand in a glove and then in a baggie of vegetable oil. Put this bag (with the
hand in it) in the water. The oil will serve to keep their hand warm just like blubber or fat
does for the animals Target: cause and effect
What Kind of Bed?
Materials Needed: Pictures of animals that hibernate (from magazines, online, etc.);
glue sticks; construction paper; markers
Look at the pictures with the children. Ask them where they think each animal would
make its bed in the winter when it hibernates (in a tree trunk, a log, a cave, in the mudfor snakes!).
Have the children choose just 1 animal picture.
Encourage the children to write their name on their paper. Then instruct them to draw a
bed and/or home for the winter for their animal and then, using the glue stick, place their
animal in its home.
As the children are making their pictures, be sure to ask each of them (individually)
where their animal will sleep and write it down.
When done, write what they told you on their papers and hang to display.
*You do not need to just write "My snake sleeps in the mud." Write down EVERYTHING
they say....it could become quite the story!
Target: decision making
Where are the Animals?
Materials Needed: Enough stuffed animals for each child, large blanket
In advance, hide the animals in the classroom or large play area or outside!
Sit on the blanket with the children and tell them they have to find the winter animals.
Tell them that they are only to find ONE animal and then run back to the blanket!
Talk about which animal each child has. Is it a winter animal? Does it hibernate (sleep
all winter long)? Does it migrate (go somewhere warm) in winter? Does it stay awake
(adapt) in winter?
Let the children then continue with their own hide and seek game or simply play with the
stuffed animals! If you don’t have enough stuffed animals then you can print off different
pictures of a variety of animals and have the children find the different pictures. Target:
labeling
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Language
Little Bear
Are you sleeping
Are you sleeping little bear
You will sleep all winter
Through the cold, cold winter, little bear
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping, little bear
You will wake in springtime, in the warm, warm springtime, little bear, little bear
Target: vocabulary
Peguins
Have You Ever Seen A Penguin?
Have you ever seen a penguin?
A penguin. . .a penguin!
Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that way?
Swim this way and that way . . . and this way and that way?
Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that? (point)
Have you ever seen a penguin?
A penguin. . .a penguin!
Have you ever seen a penguin slide this way and that way?
Slide this way and that way . . . and this way and that way?
Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that? (point)
Have you ever seen a penguin?
A penguin. . .a penguin!
Have you ever seen a penguin waddle this way and that way?
Waddle this way and that way . . . and this way and that way?
Have you ever seen a penguin waddle this way and that? (point)
Have you ever seen a penguin?
A penguin. . .a penguin!
Target: repetition
Five Little Bears
Five little bears little bears were dancing on the floor
One fell down and that left four
Four little bears climbed up a tree
One found a bee hive that left three
Three little bears were wondering what to do
One chased a bunny rabbit that left two
Two little bears were looking for some fun
One took a swim that left one
One little bear sitting all alone
He looked all around and then ran home.
Target: number labeling
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Time for Sleeping
Now, it’s time for sleeping
The bears go in their caves
It Keeps them warm and cozy
Time for lazy days
When the snow is gone & the sun comes out to play
The bears will wake up from their sleep
and then go on to play.
Target: rhyming
Penguin Family
One royal penguin. .feeling very blue (hold up one finger)
Called for his brother then there were two (hold up two fingers)
Two royal penguins. . .swimming in the sea (swimming motion)
Called for their sister then there were three (hold up three fingers)
Three royal penguins waddle on the shore (waddle)
Call for their mother, then there were four (hold up four fingers)
Four royal penguins learning how to dive (Make diving motion)
Call for their father, then there were five (hold up five fingers)
Target: number labeling
Walking Through the Arctic
Walking through the artic (echo)
And what do you think I saw (echo)
A great big polar bear
He said Sta-and UP! (everyone jump up)
And shake, shake, this way, shake, shake that way (everyone shake)
Shake, shake, this way and then sit down (sit down)
Target: repetition
Counting Penguins
1 little. .2 little . . . 3 little penguins
4 little. .5 little. . 6 little penguins
7 little . . . 8 little . . . 9 little penguins
10 little penguin girls
1 little. .2 little . . . 3 little penguins
4 little. .5 little. . 6 little penguins
7 little . . . 8 little . . . 9 little penguins
10 little penguin boys
Target: number labelling
CREATIVE
Recycled Homes
Materials Needed: Empty boxes, cans, egg cartons, etc.; paint
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Ask the children where animals might sleep during the winter. Discuss the many
different places-snakes in mud pits, turtles under mud, frogs in logs, bees in the ground,
animals in holes in the ground or in tree trunks, in caves, etc.
Tell them they are going to create some animal homes! Let them choose from the items
to come up with a home they'd like to paint.
Place houses on the floor with some different plastic animals and let the children use
their imagination in matching the animals with the homes that they have made. Target:
decision making
Black and White Penguin Collage
Materials Needed: Pictures of penguins; black and white scraps of paper; wiggly eyes;
small orange triangles (for beaks!); school glue; construction paper to glue collage on.
Encourage the children to tear the black and white scraps of paper to make their own
penguin! Some of your children may comment "I can't make a penguin." Oh yes they
can! Children are very used to being told, step by step, how to "make" something that
they don't have the option to just create and creating, after all, is what art is all about!
Show them the pictures of penguins. Discuss what they look like: Black bodies, white
stomachs, eyes, beak, etc.). Tearing the paper is great for their fine motor skills.
VARIATION: If you want to encourage scissor cutting skills, give each child a rectangle
shape of black paper (about 8" X 4") and a white rectangle of paper (about 5" X 3").
The teacher takes one piece of the black paper and says "I'm going to make a penguin
body. (Get your scissors and start cutting with no specific shape in mind and say) "Cut,
cut, cut, cut, cut..." Continue until you've cut out a random shape. Say "That's the body.
Now I'm going to make the white belly. (Do the same with a white piece of paper saying)
Cut, cut, cut, cut....". Continue until you have a white shape cut out. Glue the white to
the black and tell the children "There, I made a penguin! I'm going to give it 2 eyes and
a beak...there! Now you make your own penguins! I think all of our penguins will look
different!"
Target: independence
Ice Block Play
Pictures and instructions found at this link
http://pre-schoolplay.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/ice-play.html?m=1 Target: sensory
Coffee Bear
What You Need:
 Glue
 Water
 Coffee Grounds
 Construction Paper
What You Do:
 Have the children make bears with watered down glue. Then sprinkle coffee grounds
on them. Now you have great brown bears. Target: sensory
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
EMOTIONAL
Skunk, Squirrel or Ground Hog?!
Materials Needed: White, brown and black paint; construction paper; wiggly eyes.
Show the children pictures of a skunk, ground hog and squirrel! Remind them that these
animals hibernate in winter.
Provide paint for the children to paint their sleeping animals.*
Have them glue on 2 wiggly eyes on the painted paper when done.
*Remember- this is art, not a craft! The picture might resemble an animal or it may just
be black and white (or gray!) paint on a paper! It's the process, not the product! Target:
independence
Owl Babies!
Materials Needed: Markers; scissor; 2 wiggly eyes for each child; school glue; lots and
lots of feathers!
The children should draw and then cut out a large circle for their owls' bodies. They
should then draw and cut out a smaller one for the head.
With the markers, the children should draw eyes and a beak for their owl on the smaller
circle.
On the large circle, the children will glue on feathers. Let them choose how many, which
colors, etc. Don't limit them by saying "Owls are brown and white, or...". This is art--their
perception (as opposed to a craft which has, typically, a specific outcome).
Glue the head onto the body and let dry.
Target: independence
COOKING
Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to
follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation! Ask many questions while
cooking with your children to encourage conversation! Be sure to ask specific Winter
Animal theme questions while making these fun snacks!
Paw Print Pancakes
Ingredients and Items needed: Pancake batter, bananas, syrup, if desired; plastic
knives. Have the children take turns adding the ingredients and stirring the batter for the
pancakes. The Provider will pour the batter in the shape of the footprint of an animal or
make up shapes and ask the children what kind of animal do they think would have a
footprint like that.
Have children slice the bananas and place a few slices on the top edge of the pancake-bear paws! You could also spread the pancakes with whipped cream or vanilla yogurt to
make it look like a polar bear paw!
Target: taking turns
Winter Popsicles
Ingredients and Items Needed: Fruit juice, ice cube trays, aluminum foil, craft sticks,
small (1/8 cup) measurer.
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Have children fill an ice cube tray compartment with fruit juice. I listed a 1/8 cup
measurer, but you could also use eye droppers or spoons.
Cover the ice cube trays with aluminum foil and gently place a craft stick in the middle of
each compartment, through the foil.
Freeze! Enjoy a snack later in the day or the next day! If it is really cold out put the ice
cube trays outside to freeze. Target: cooperation
Berry, Berry Good! Winter Salad!
Ingredients and Items needed: Wide assortment of berries!--blueberries, strawberries,
raspberries, cranberries etc.; strainer (colander); plastic knives; paper cups or bowls;
and teaspoons for the children to eat with.
Rinse the berries off before using. Have children wash their hands before making their
fruit salad. Encourage the children to take a tablespoon of each type of berry and put it
in front of them.
Encourage them to investigate what each one looks like! Hibernating animals also pick
berries, check them out and eat them! Look for stems still left on blueberries, the green
on the strawberries, etc. Encourage children to cut the fruits in half with a plastic knife to
see what the inside looks like. ENCOURAGE TASTING HERE! They should place their
cut fruit into a cup and put it aside for snack time!
VARIATION: You could add a spoonful of vanilla yogurt as a topping, if children like it!
EXTENSION: I usually encourage the children to write their own names on the cup
before the activity. ANY chance for them to write their own name is taken advantage of!
The more often they write their own name, the better chance they will be able to
recognize and read it in the future! Target: cooperation
Animal Toast
Ingredients and Items Needed: Bread, Toaster, jelly or jam; animal cookie cutters;
plastic knives.
Give each child a piece of toast. Have them use the cookie cutter to make an animal
shape. Spread with jelly-yum!
EXTENSION: Do not throw away the extra crust! Take a walk later after snake with the
children and let them break up the toast and leave it outside for the birds and animals
that do NOT hibernate! Target: independence
Hibernating Bear
Give each child a small cup of chocolate pudding with a gummy bear hidden inside, on
top have children add crumbled cookie for dirt and whipped cream for snow. They can
enjoy the snack as they hunt for the "hibernating bear" in the pudding. Target:
independence. If you have this treat for a snack remember to add 2 healthy items to
the snack as well.
Read a Book on Winter Animals or Hibernation—Target: vocabulary
Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science) by Henrietta Bancroft & Richard
G. Van Gelder
Bear Snores On (The Bear Books) by Karma Wilson
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January 2016- Winter Animals and Hibernation
Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science,
Stage 1) by Millicent E. Selsam
Cuddly Dudley by Jez Alborough
Flip and Flop by Dawn Apperley
The Hat by Jan Brett
Hopper by Marcus Pfister
The Mitten by Jan Brett
One Snowy Day (level 1) (Hello Reader) by Jeffrey Scherer
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? (Brown Bear and Friends) by Bill Martin Jr.
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lister
When Will It Snow? by Bruce Hiscock
When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan
Who's Been Here?: A Tale in Tracks by Fran Hodgkins
Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science) by Henrietta Bancroft (also great
for Winter Animals theme! All about how different animals prepare for winter-some eat
to prepare for hibernation, some gather food to eat during the winter, etc.).
Bear Snores On (The Bear Books) by Karma Wilson
Don't Wake Up the Bear! by Marjorie Dennis Murray
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Hibernation (Patterns in Nature) by Margaret Hall (GREAT non-fiction book!)
One Snowy Day (level 1) (Hello Reader) by Jeffrey Scherer
Time to Sleep (An Owlet Book) by Denise Fleming
The Animals' Winter Sleep by Lynda Graham-Barber (also great for Winter Animal
theme)
Scholastic Reader Level 2: Wake Me in Spring! by Jame Preller
What Do Animals Do in Winter?: How Animals Survive the Cold (Discovery Readers) by
Melvin and Gilda Berger
Ideas for in your center:
Hang pictures of as many animals as you can! Polar Bears, squirrels hamsters, birds,
penguins, etc. Don't forget to add environmental pictures too, if you have any, such as
snow covered mountains, trees, lakes etc.
Sand Play
Add plastic animals and small boxes or cups (for caves) to your sand table.
Bottom of the Lake!
Use water in your sand and water table this week. Add some sand to make it a bit
muddy and some plastic snakes and turtles to go along with your Hibernation theme! Of
course, still provide water wheels, spoons, measurers, cups, etc.
Block Area
Add various plastic animals to the block area
Dress up
Add animal costumes to the dress up materials
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