K2L11 Winter Wildlife

Lesson Duration: 45 minutes

Grade: K2

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Learning Objectives

• Children will be able to identify three ways animals survive winter (hibernate, migrate, adapt)

• Children will be able to explain why animals store food before winter

• Children will be able to demonstrate understanding of how animals stay warm in winter

Materials Needed:

• Sorting chart (laminated)

• Animal pictures/plastic figures

• Fresh fruit portions in cups

• Frozen fruit ice cubes

• Ice cube trays

• Investigation logs

• Large bowl of ice water

• 8 ziplock bags

• Shortening, bubble wrap, tissue paper, wool

• Winter animal puppet

K2L12 Lesson Plan - Winter Wildlife.pdf

Lesson Procedure

### 3 mins - Welcome Time

• Sing the "Hello Song"

• Introduce today's topic: "Today we're going to learn how animals survive in winter!"

• Present winter animal puppet friend who needs help understanding winter

### 5 mins - Discovery Chat

• Show pictures of winter scenes

• Ask: "What happens to animals when it gets cold?"

• Demonstrate with puppet:

  - Sleeping (hibernation)

  - Flying away (migration)

  - Getting warmer fur (adaptation)

• Introduce key vocabulary through actions and pictures

### 12 mins - Hands-On Challenge 1: Winter Animal Sorting

• Set up sorting board with three categories:

  - Hibernating animals

  - Migrating animals

  - Adapting animals

• Provide small groups with animal figures/cards

• Guide sorting activity:

  - Show each animal

  - Discuss: "What does this animal do in winter?"

  - Help place in correct category

• Play "Winter Animal Actions":

  - When teacher shows hibernating animal → children curl up sleeping

  - When teacher shows migrating animal → children fly away

  - When teacher shows adapting animal → children act out getting warmer

### 12 mins - Hands-On Challenge 2: Finding Winter Food

• Distribute investigation logs

• Explore fresh fruit:

  - Give each child a cup of fresh fruit

  - Observe smell, appearance

  - Record observations in log

• Explore frozen fruit:

  - Give each child an ice cube with frozen fruit

  - Observe differences

  - Record findings

• Discuss:

  - "Why was the frozen fruit harder to find?"

  - "How do animals solve this problem?"

### 12 mins - Hands-On Challenge 3: Blubber Experiment

• Set up testing stations:

  - Bowl of ice water

  - Four pairs of ziplock bags with different materials:

    * Bubble wrap layer

    * Tissue paper layer

    * Shortening layer

    * Wool layer

• Guide investigation:

  1. Test bare hand in water briefly

  2. Test each "insulated" bag

  3. Compare warmth levels

• Discuss findings:

  - "Which material kept your hand warmest?"

  - "How does this help arctic animals?"

### 3 mins - Wrap-Up

• Recap main learning points:

  - Animals hibernate, migrate, or adapt

  - Food is harder to find in winter

  - Blubber keeps animals warm

• Sing the "Goodbye Song" with winter animal actions