Staying Warm in a Winter World

Hibernation, Migration, Adaptation

As the seasons change and winter lurks just around the corner, many animals have different ways of dealing with the cold weather.  Today we will explore how many different animals survive the winter months.

Hibernation:

When an animal hibernates it means they sleep through the cold winter months to survive.  Animals that do this make sure to store up plenty of food and fat so that they can stay warm while they’re tucked away in their dens.  Animals like squirrels hoard a bunch of food in their nests and wake up to eat again when they’re hungry, while bears stay sleeping for months without needing to eat more food until the weather turns warmer.

Hibernating animals hide away or sleep all winter long and don’t wake up until Spring.

Some animals that hibernate are bears, squirrels, skunks (and many other small rodents), frogs, snakes, and ladybugs!

Migration:

Animals that can’t survive through the harsh, freezing weather of winter usually move to another place where the climate is warmer.  Migration means to move from one place to another when your body cannot adapt to the places around you.

Some animals that migrate South for the winter are song birds, geese, and Monarch Butterflies.

Adaptation:

When an animal adapts, it means they change their bodies to be able to survive in the climate around them.  Many animals do this by growing lots of fur to protect them from the cold,  some animals even change the color of their fur or skin to disguise themselves in their new climate, while others are cold-blooded to be able to deal with hotter climates.

Some animals that learn to adapt to their climates are tortoises, lizards, snowshoe rabbits, deer, foxes, wolves, and weasels.

Check out these sites to explore more about how animals adapt to their environment.

Animals in a winter world

“Think-About-It” Journal Questions:

• What category do Humans fall in, and why?
• Why do you think it’s important for animals to eat more when it gets cold?
  
• Name one reason why you think animals might change color when the weather changes.
  

Now use what you’ve learned to complete the Concept Map about animals different animals.  Use the knowledge that you’ve learned about animal survival to separate the animals into categories. Click on the PROJECTS tab at the top of the site, and go to Project 5: “Staying Warm in a Winter World”.

Use the power point to create a concept map using the pictures provided.

Great work!  Now you know all about how animals survive in the winter!  Make sure to bundle up!



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Summary:
Students will be able to categorize different animals into groups according to how they survive through winter.

Main Curriculum Tie:
2nd Grade – Content
Standard 3 Objective 2
Observe and describe weather.

Falling Experiment

To begin the activity:

1. Go to the PROJECTS tab and click on the link to Project 4: Caution! Falling Objects.  This gives you access to a spreadsheet that will help you record your data as we do our activity.

2.  Make a list of all the items that you want to measure.

3.  Using a ruler, measure the items in INCHES and record your measurements on the spreadsheet.

4.  Measure the items by how much they weigh in GRAMS using the small scales, and record your data on the spreadsheet.

5.  Next write down the color of each item.

6.  After examining all of your data, it’s time to make a prediction!

7.  Here are some things to think about before you predict the outcome.  Notice things like color, shape, size, height and weight as you observe.  Fox example, could the color of an object effect how fast it falls?  Would a heavier object fall faster than a smaller object?

After examining the different objects, predict what you think will happen and answer questions 1-3 in your “Think-About-It” Journal!

8.  Now comes the fun part!  It’s time to perform the experiment.

• Stand up straight.
• Hold your arm out in front of you.
• Drop one item while another classmate uses the stopwatch to time your objects as they fall.
• Record the time it took each item to fall.

9.  Now you can answer questions 4 and 5 in your “Think-About-It” Journals.

Gravity Spreadsheet Activity Journal Questions:

1. Do you think objects might drop faster based on their appearance?
2. Do you think it’s important to predict the outcome to a problem?
3. Explain how you made your predictions?  Were they based on weight? Color? Size?
4. Why do you think some objects dropped faster or slower than others?
5. After our experiment what pattern did you notice about how gravity affects falling objects?

Grabbing Gravity

Hold on tight class, because today we are continuing to study about gravity!

Gravity is a force that pulls everything towards the center of the Earth.  Today we will look and talk about different objects and the effect that gravity has on them.  We will create a concept map about these differect pictures of  actions and objects, and decide how to group them into different categories. 

Click on the Projects tab at the top of the page and head over to Project 3!  Here you will find the worksheet that we’ll be creating a concept map about.  It is your job to decide the best ways to group these pictures based on their relationship with gravity. 

Once you’re finished completing your concept maps think about these questions:

1. In your own words explain what gravity is.  Remember to include at least 3 of our vocabulary terms in your definition! (Force, Pull, Resist, Weight, Heavy, Light, Earth.)
2. Explain why gravity is important while riding on a Roller Coaster.
3. Name three objects that show resistance to gravity.
4. Which way does gravity pull?
5. Write a short story about what you think life would be like without Gravity.

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• 3rd Grade Science 
  Standard 4 : 
  Students will understand that objects near Earth are pulled toward Earth by gravity. 
  Objective 1, 2. 

Our Four Seasons

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Grade — Kindergarten

Standard 3
Students will develop an understanding of their environment.

Objective 1
Investigate changes in the seasons.

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Hello Boys and Girls!

Today we are learning about our 4 seasons.

Below you will see a picture showing each different season.  Make sure to read the word and think about why the picture matches it.  What’s different about each picture?  Can you tell the different seasons apart?

Good job reading and comparing.  There are alot of things that make each season different!

Here’s an example of why winter is special and different from any other season:

Here’s some question’s to get our minds thinking:

1. Name one thing about each season that makes it different from the others.  (Remember to name four reasons.  One for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.)
2. If it snowed in the summer what would happen?  Why would this happen?
3. How do we know when a season changes?
4. List three articles of clothing that you might wear in the snow, and give a reason why you should wear them.
5. Describe your favorite season.  Why is that one your favorite?

Playing With Your Food-Chain (First Project~!)

Hello class.  I hope you’re all excited to begin our new lesson!  This will be our first project together.

Click on the “PROJECTS” tab at the top of the page and it will guide your to some fun websites to learn from. 

After you complete the activities there grab your Animal Journal, and do your best at answering the questions below.  You’ll hand your journals in at the beginning of class next week.

• Deep Thinking Time!

                        Please answer the following questions and record them in your Journal:

1. Decide which category you find yourself in. (Top-carnivore, Omnivore, Herbivore, Producer).  Explain why you chose this.
2. Organize into two lists “Things You Eat” and “Things That Can Eat You”. Which list was easier to fill out?  Why?
3. Now create a food chain including you as a Top-Carnivore, Omnivore, or Herbivore.
4. Can a living human be a producer? Why or why not?
5. Write a story about a carnivore/omnivore, an herbivore, or a producer trying to outsmart a top-carnivore/top-predator.

This is for Miss Cat’s second grade class at Yarnball Elementary.