INTRODUCTION
Hibernation is a state that some animals enter in the winter in order to survive a period when
food is not readily available. Animals that hibernate enter a temporary sleep-like condition in
which their body temperatures drop significantly and their heart rate and breathing slow
drastically. As a result, the animals use up less energy than when they are active. Hibernating
animals, such as bats, ground squirrels, mouse lemurs, and European hedgehogs, do not need
to eat or drink because their metabolism slows and their bodies can live off of stored fat.
Hibernation lasts anywhere from a few weeks to several months. The length of time an
animal hibernates depends on the species, the time of year, ambient temperatures, and
how healthy the animal is. (The teacher will explain hibernation to children: Some animals
hibernate for part, or all of winter. Hibernate means they fall into a very deep sleep. When
animals hibernate, their body temperature drops, their breathing slows down and their
heart doesn't beat as fast as before. They use their little energy when they are in this deep
sleep. They live off of the fat that they stored inside their bodies. They get this body fat by
eating food during the fall. Animals that hibernate are bears, chipmunks, snakes and some
types of bats.)
How do animals prepare for hibernation?
When animals hibernate, they fall into a state of dormancy. This means their body
temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate all drop.
Animals hibernate to survive the winter season, when the weather is cold and food is
scarce. To prepare, animals might search for, eat, and/or store extra food in the fall. Their
fur also thickens to keep them warm.
FACTS
1. When the weather is cold and food is in short supply, animals like hedgehogs, bears and
bats become inactive to save energy. During hibernation their heart rates and breathing slow
down, and their body temperature drops.
2. To prepare for a long hibernation in which they don’t eat or drink, animals stuff their faces.
Dormice, for example, eat so much that by the end of summer, they can be double their normal
size. Just as well, because they can lose up to half their body weight during hibernation.
3. Animals hibernate in lots of different ways – from snails, who attach themselves to a surface,
cover themselves with their slime, and wait out winter, to hedgehogs, who like to build
nests out of grass, leaves and straw, often under fallen logs.
4. Squirrels don’t hibernate because they can’t build up enough body fat. During summer,
they stash food in different locations. Then in winter, they sleep for up to 20 hours a day,
heading out in the early morning or late afternoon to snack on their hoards.
5. Bears don't eat in the winter. They eat a lot of fish in Autumn.
6. Bats are true hibernators. They don't wake, eat or poo.
How animals change feather or fur?
Weasels, hares, and foxes turn white in Winter. Their feathers or fur change from brown to
white. It becomes thicker and act as a better insulator than the brown summer coat. The
color change allows these animals to be camouflaged in the snow to avoid predators and
hunt prey.
HIBERNATING HOMES
(The teacher and pupils will sing a song about hibernation and switch out the animals
and hibernating homes).
BATS- CAVES
SNAILS- UNDER STONES
BEES- UNDER SOIL
HEDGEHOGS- UNDER BURROWS OR HOLLOW TREES
BEARS- DENS
(The teacher can use flashcards and hibernating home illustrations to children)
ACTIVITY
Hibernation Play Dough Tray! Create a hibernation-
themed play dough tray using small rocks, plastic
greenery (cut off from flake flowers), sticks, white pom-
poms, animal figures, scissors, a rolling pin, and play
dough. Children can sculpt winter dens, caves,
burrows, and hiding spots (under rocks/leaves) for the
animals with the items from the tray. Adding scissors
is a great way to practice and strengthen scissor skills.
Play dough trays strengthen fine motor muscles, and
develop hand-eye coordination, creativity, oral
language, and social skills as they share the materials.