From a site that is now gone:
http://www.coe.iup.edu/worldofkindergarten/H/hbtn.html
When I talk about hibernation, I take a plastic turtle and a plastic see-thru shoe box with lid to illustrate hibernation. We discuss the meaning and go outside and find small twigs, sand and leaves. We put 1 layer of the twigs, etc. in the bottom of the shoe box --put the turtle in - - - then the remaining twigs, etc. on top of him. I make sure they can see the turtle "sleeping" inside. I label the top of the box: S-h-h! I'm Hibernating. The box sits on the counter until Spring so we can wake him up. I know it sounds silly but the kids like it.
The experiment goes like this, find a small pattern of a cute little bear and cut out two for each child out of newspaper. Get two bins of water one cold and one hot (not too hot kids will be putting their bear in it) Discuss cold and winter and explain that some animals sleep during the winter when it is cold. Brainstorm animals that they think might sleep in the winter, squirrels, bears, etc. talk about what happens when it begins to warm up. Questions, why do you think animals hibernate? Do your own thing here You know the curriculum, anyway, have the children fold up their bears into fourths and have 3 or 4 kids at once place their bears into the cold water. What happens? (Some will unfold (wake up) a little and most will not open, but stay all nice and curled up asleep) When it is cold the animals hibernate. Now let's see what happens with the hot water. Have children place folded bears into hot water 3 or 4 at a time. What happens? (Bears should unfold or wake up.) Deduction? When it is cold animals hibernate, when it begins to warm up they wake up. This is too cute and kids really get the concept.
Bear is sleeping, bear is sleeping
In the cave, in the cave.
I wonder when he'll come out,
I wonder when he'll come out
In the spring, In the spring.
Birds are flying, birds are flying
In the sky, in the sky.
I wonder when they'll come back,
I wonder when they'll come back,
In the spring, in the spring.
*****
Hibernation
Tune: Allouette
Chorus:
Hibernation, time for hibernation,
Hibernation, time to go to sleep.
In the winter, where's the bear?
Sleeping in its log or lair.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. Oh!
Chorus
In the winter, where's the frog?
Sleeping by a pond or log.
Where's the frog? Pond or log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. Oh!
Chorus
In the winter, where's the snake?
In the mud beneath beneath the lake.
Where's the snake? In the lake.
Where's the frog? Pond or log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. Oh!
Chorus
In the winter, where’ the bat?
In a cave is where it’s at.
Where’s the bat? A cave it’s at.
Where's the snake? In the lake.
Where's the frog? Pond or log.
Where's the bear? Log or lair. Oh!
Where Is Bear?
(substitute any hibernating animal)
Tune: Where Is Thumbkin?
Where is bear?
Here I am.
Here I am.
How are you this winter?
Very tired, thank you.
Go to sleep.
Go to sleep.
Here are some other animals you can use in the song: badger, bear, rabbit, chipmunk, groundhog, turtle, frog, bat, raccoon, snake, skunk, squirrel, hedgehog, mouse
*****
Here is a Cave - Fingerplay
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.
*****
A Squirrel Song
Tune: She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain
I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
I'll be gathering all the acorns, gathering all the acorns,
Gathering all the acorns till they're gone.
(Make collecting motion with your hands)
And I'll put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside my little home.
I will put them all inside, put them all inside,
Put them all inside my little home.
(Pretend to place nuts in treehouse)
And I'll eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
I will eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
I will eat the nuts until, eat the nuts until,
Eat the nuts until the winter's gone.
(Pretend to eat acorns)
Then I'll do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again come next fall.
I will do it all again, do it all again,
Do it all again come next fall.
(Make gathering motion with hands and arms again)
*****
Getting Ready For Wintertime
Tune: Do You Know The Muffin Man?
Oh, do you know a squirrel works hard,
A squirrel works hard, a squirrel works hard?
Oh, do you know a squirrel works hard,
Getting ready for wintertime?
Repeat the song making new verses: finds nuts, hides nuts, and builds a nest.
*****
Scurry Squirrel
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Scurry squirrels and don't be slow
Winter's coming, don't you know
Scamper, scamper all around
Bury treasures in the ground
Scurry squirrels and don't be slow
Winter's coming, don't you know!
*****
Mr. Bear
Tune: If You're Happy And You Know It
Mr. Bear says all he wants to do is sleep
Now that winter's here and snow is very deep
He has curled up in his den
And we probably won't see him
Till the spring when all he'll want to do is eat!
*****
Little Bear
Tune: Frere Jacques
Are you sleepy, Are you sleepy
Little bear, little bear?
Wintertime is coming,
Wintertime is coming,
Very soon, very soon.
Find a cave, Find a cave,
Little bear, little bear
Wintertime is here,
Wintertime is here,
Go to sleep, go to sleep.
Are you sleepy, Are you sleepy
Little bear, little bear?
You will wake in springtime
In the warm, warm springtime
Little bear, little bear
Time to wake up,
Time to wake up
Little bear, little bear
Springtime is here,
Springtime is here
Wake up now, wake up now!
*****
Winter is Cold - Action Poem
Winter is cold (hug yourself and shiver)
There is snow in the sky (flutter fingers above your head)
The squirrel gathers nuts (pretend to gather nuts)
And the wild geese fly (flap arms)
The fluffy red fox (cup hands over head to form ears)
Has his fur to keep warm (stroke arms as if stroking fur)
The bear's in her cave (form a cave shape with your arms)
Sleeping all through the storm (fold hands under cheek and pretend to sleep)
*****
Tell the kids this story when introducing hibernation in the fall: I have a friend named Bernate who gets real sleepy when the weather gets cold. Whenever I see her, I wave my hand at her and I say, "Hi Bernate!"
When we start talking about the word or trying to recall what the word is, all I have to do is put my hand in the air and wave and the kids immediately say "hibernate" and know that's when an animal goes to sleep when the cold air comes.
*****
Where do the ___ go when the leaves turn red?
They crawl in their ___ and go to bed.
They hibernate, they hibernate,
And they don't come out till SPRING!
---from Kristin Schlosser's book
(Plug in words and pictures for foxes and dens, porcupines, squirrels, etc.)
And adapted for "Migrate":
Where do the ___ go when leaves turn red?
They fly away south to find some "bread."
They migrate, they migrate
and they don't come back 'til SPRING!
*****
Bear is Sleeping
Tune: Frere Jacques
Bear is sleeping. Bear is sleeping
Let is snow! Let it snow!
Sleeping all winter, sleeping all winter.
Snug and warm, snug and warm.
Repeat song three times changing the word sleeping to resting, then
napping, then snoring.
*****
Bears Are Sleeping
Tune: Frere Jacques
Bears are sleeping, bears are sleeping (pretend to sleep)
In their lairs, in their lairs.
Soon it will be springtime,
Soon it will be spring time.
Wake up, bears! Wake up, bears! (pretend to wake up)
*****
Time to Migrate
Tune: London Bridge
Geese are honking, "Let’s fly south.
Let’s fly south. Honk, honk, honk."
Geese are honking, "Let’s fly south."
Time to migrate!
Ducks are quacking, "Let’s fly south.
Let’s fly south. Quack, quack, quack."
Ducks are quacking, "Let’s fly south."
Time to migrate!
Robins are chirping, "Let’s fly south.
Let’s fly south. Chirp, chirp, chirp."
Robins are chirping,"Let’s fly south."
Time to migrate!
First, divide the class into three groups. Tell students that they will pretend to be birds that need to migrate south for the winter. Then designate one group to be geese, one to be ducks, and one to be robins. Line up the groups at one end of an open area. In turn, prompt each bird group to move "south" across the space as you sing the applicable verse of the song "Time to Migrate." Encourage each group to make appropriate bird sounds as they flap, flit, and wing their way south!
*****
Art Activities
Bear Caves
Use a lunch size paper bag. Cut an arch out from the open end (one side only) This makes the opening for the cave. Let children glue cotton balls all over the top for snow. Photocopy a small bear, let children color and cut out. Glue bear to a craft stick. The bear can go in and out of his cave.
*****
Read Little Bear's Thanksgiving which is about a bear that gives up a day of hibernating to have his first Thanksgiving dinner with his friends. After reading the book, ask the students to discuss hwo they would feel if they slept through Thanksgiving Day. What would they miss the most and why?
*****
Talk about animals that have fur grow thicker, more protective coats to insulate them from the cold winter temperatures. Just like animals, people need to bundle up for winter too.
After reading the following poem, each child will draw and color a picture of an animal in its winter coat. A day or two before I will take a picture of each child wearing his winter garb. Put the picture next to their drawing and write "The bear has a ----------- coat, Kevin has a ----------- coat.
The fluffy red fox has a warm winter coat
I can wear a red coat too!
The fluffy red fox needs a warm winter coat
Just like me and you
The frisky gray squirrel has a warm winter coat
I can wear a gray coat too!
The frisky gray squirrel needs a warm winter coat,
Just like me and you
The old brown groundhog has a warm winter coat
I can wear a brown coat, too
The old brown groundhog needs a warm winter coat
Just like me and you!
