We began our journey through the mammal world right as December began. As a culmmination of our two week unit, we ended in Hibernation Day, a great substitution to traditional holiday celebrations.
[Chants]
Sing to the tune of Frere Jacques
[Where Do They Go? Bar/Picto Graph]
Using realistic photos of things is a well-known GLAD strategy. I laminated tons of common mammals and birds and asked the students to shout out what they thought each animal did in the winter. Then, I chose a student to come up and place it in the correct row.
[Story Sequencing]
Using the animal information they have recieved over the past few weeks, I encouraged students to come up with stories about these animals. One of my lowest level students thrived with this; he could go on and on about the stories he made up, and gladly filled out many Draw a Story worksheets!
[Accompanying Books]
Tons & tons of stuff to go with Jan's fabulous books!
[Traits: Who Am I Wall]
Great masks from The Mitten to print and cut out!
I took photos of each kiddo with a randomly chosen mask. In small groups, I ask students to brainstorm ways we can describe that animal. I write what they say, and they copy on handwriting paper.
Outside, other students love to flip through and guess who is who!
[Hibernation Day]
Ingredients:
*4 or 5 sheets of butcher paper, about 4 feet long, any color
*Jan Brett masks, cut out and laminated
*15 baggies of goldfish (or any snack), hidden
*15 baggies of goldfish (or any snack), hidden
*Paper thermometer
*15 Kindergarteners
Yields:
15 LOUD, excited kiddos!
The kids learn that animals know when to hibernate when the temperature changes. Use your own thermometer to gauge when the kids can come out of hibernation mode and when they should begin.
After kids have created their Hibernation Huts (by using pieces of butcher paper around the room), they must do a scavenger hunt for food, just like animals do before packing it in for the winter!
Students should have lots of choice. I literally left the butcher paper on the carpet and said "Go!"
I'm sure there are more organized ways to go about this, but you have to know what your kids can do :) This hard-worker below is making himself a huge nest in the math center.
Encourage imagination. Between all the curriculm and academics, play time can be hard to come by. This student is really playing up his rabbit character as he takes a drink from the class waterhole (made with butcher paper).
I distributed the animals randomly. Like animals must "bunk" together, so to speak. This gives us a chance to excersize cooperation and good partnership.
Right before the Hibernation Hour, I check to see how the kids are holding up. In everyone's "habitat" is one alphabet puzzle, math puzzle and books. While they are "hibernating," they must simply be working on a silent activity. I even gave them the option to nap (which I had a feeling would not happen).
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Hibernation Time!
