Learning About Hibernation and Migration!

What a fun subject to learn. This theme involves a lot of play which makes hibernation so much fun for preschoolers.

 

Video

Art

 

Science
Where do animals hibernate/migrate?

 

 

 

Language Arts
HIbernation peek-a-boo book

I found this cute idea at: http://livelaughilovekindergarten.blogspot.com I modified it a little, to meet my preschoolers needs, but kimberly was so generous and kindly e-mailed me the hibernation flap book worksheets.

TAADAA my kids loved it. Each day we learned about a different animal.

 

Math
Counting bears activity

 

 

Dramatic Play
hibernating till spring

Learning about animals that hibernate and migrate went better than I anticipated. All of the children enjoyed pretending to be animals that migrate and “traveled” throughout the playground to find a warmer climate. 

 

Each had the opportunity to choose what animal they wanted to be, get their blankets, and hibernate till “spring”. They woke up to doughnuts, and hot chocolate, to satisfy their winter-long hunger.

 

 

 

 

Hibernation Learning Centers
making hedgehogs
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

All About the Arctic Fox

Fun Facts:
1. The arctic fox has furry soles, so they don't stick to the ice
2. The fox's coat changes during the seasons to better co with it environment.

Additional resources:
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/mammals/arctic-fox
 

 

Art Project
We watched a few videos showing what the northern lights  are and what they look like.

 

I found this FREE template online. Here's the link:

http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/arcticfox.pdf
 

Water Painting the Northern Lights

Some of my kids wanted just the fox silhouette

 and others preferred  pasting a white Arctic Fox on their painting.

Then I had a little rebel who told me she didn't want white fur. She wanted her fox to have brown fur, because it was summer time :) She doesn't like winter haha

 

Why are polar bears skin black ?

Polar Bear Fun Facts
http://www.ualr.edu/bnbarnes/polarbears.html
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/polarbear.html
http://www.kidzone.ws/sg/polarbear/polar_bear.htm
http://kids.discovery.com/tell-me/animals/mammals/polar-bears

Videos

 

 

Art/Science

A polar bear's skin is black so it can soak up as much of the sun's rays as possible.



Before this craft, I asked the kids what color they thought the polar bears skin was. They all replied white! To better help them understand, I asked my preschoolers what color Darren's( student) skin color was, they answered white. I continued by asking them what color Darren's hair was, they said Black.  

Although Polar bears do not have "white" fur. It helped them understand that polar bears can have different color skin than their fur.

 

Here is the link to the polar bear template: images/elementary/p329PolarBear.pdf

I had to enlarge it a few times on our school copy machine.

 

I stapled a few black sheets of paper and placed the template on top to make it easier and faster.

 Science Experiment
Why don't polar bears get cold in the freezing cold water?

They only lasted 3 seconds before taking their hand out.  

 

MORE POLAR BEAR YOUTUBE VIDEOS

 

All About Penguins

Winter Animals: Penguin Day

 Penguin facts:

1. Penguins are birds

2. they cannot fly

3. they are fast swimmers

4. they eat fish

5.their white bellies help them camouflage with the snow and sunlight, making it difficult for an underwater predator to see them.
 

 link for More penguin facts and pictures.

Language Arts

skip to 2:55 min to listen to the story.
A story about celebrating difference.
 

ART/Science

 Penguin painting project + reviewing penguin body parts and facts.

 

MATH

Feed the penguin

 

Here is the link to download it, for FREE: http://creativepreschoolresources.com

 

Outdoor Game

Ready- Set- Waddle!

Hilarious to watch!

 

DRAMATIC PLAY

playing penguins.

My kids were pretending to be the daddy penguin and caring for the eggs. The also were swimming around the playground looking for fish to eat.