Science Lesson: Hibernation
Lesson Plan
2 hours 15 minutesGradesK, 1, 2Science
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Written by Kathleen Sheehan Waldera
About this lesson
In this lesson, students learn how seasonal patterns affect animal behaviors and how our changing environment impacts them.
Inquire: Students activate background knowledge and curiosity about seasons and animals in their community.
Investigate: Students explore regional hibernating animals through an activity and a read-aloud.
Inspire: Students learn how scientists use observation to study animal adaptations and how they can help.
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Everything you need to teach it
- Teacher SlideshowOpen
- Student ActivitiesOpen
- Teacher DocumentOpen
- Read Aloud: PDF VersionOpen
- Read Aloud: E-Book VersionOpen
Teaching tips
Suggestions
- This lesson is best taught during the fall and can be revisited in the spring.
- The Inquire section can be a morning circle or carpet activity.
- The Investigate and Inspire sections can be completed concurrently in an ELA or Reading block and a Science block.
- The Investigate and Inspire sections are designed to be completed over the course of several days and can be adjusted or extended to fit different academic blocks or class schedules.
- This lesson can help students become more aware of their community and how seasonal changes affect the animals in their region.
- This lesson may inspire students to think about how seasonal changes affect animals in different areas of the world.
- This lesson can show students that small changes can still make a difference in the changing climate.
Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic understanding that animals and humans get energy from food.
- This lesson provides an opportunity for teachers to take students outdoors to explore and observe the sights and sounds of the changing seasons. Teachers may want to determine a location or plan ahead to accommodate various needs.
Differentiation
- Provide examples of animals that adapt to seasonal changes by seasonal coat color (SCC) molting and how the lack of snow cover due to weather patterns might affect those animals.
- Connect with a library, nature center, or university for examples of taxidermy or fur to discuss adaptations.
- Advanced students may research animals that estivate.
- Teachers can extend the activity to discover how animals across the planet survive the changing seasons.
- StC lesson connection: Research About Bats: A Reading Lesson
- Use the decodable book My Hearing Spot when discussing nature observation.
From the scientist review
The links between climate change and animal hibernation are clearly detailed. Primary data visualizations and wildlife video supplement this lesson’s highly credible presentation of fundamental science concepts.
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About the teacher writer
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Kathleen Sheehan Waldera
2025 marks Kathy's 26th year in Environmental Education! Currently the Saunters/Think Outside Project Coordinator for the Ice Age Trail Alliance in Wisconsin. With the support of Volunteer Educators we were able to get 9000+ 4th graders on the Ice Age Trail helping students to connect to "their place" across the state.
