Activity
Polk County Education

Winter Survival/Hike

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Hibernation isn't just about staying fed, it's about staying warm. Young environmentalists explore the importance of staying warm in the wilderness with a short lesson about surviving in the wild. Using gelatin to represent warm-blooded...
Handout
Get Set for School

Number Formation Chart

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Help young learners write their numbers with a number formation chart. It illustrates the way their pencils should move when they make each number, along with a cute story about what each number is doing and thinking as it is being written.
Handout
Science Made Simple

Science Made Simple: How Do Animals Spend the Winter?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Use this site to learn how animals use hibernation, adaptation, and migration to overcome the difficulties of winter.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: American Black Bear

For Students 4th - 8th
Most Black Bears hibernate for up to seven months, and do not eat, drink, urinate, or exercise the entire time. In the South, where plant food is available all year, not all bears hibernate, but pregnant females do. Learn more about the...
Handout
Other

Beavers: Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

For Students 9th - 10th
Did you know that beavers are vegetarians that do not hibernate and are rarely dangerous to people? You will find more beaver facts in this informative question and answer site.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: White Tailed Antelope Squirrel

For Students 4th - 8th
White-tailed Antelope Squirrels can often be seen in western and southwestern deserts, especially in shrubby areas with rocky soil. They do not hibernate, but in cold winter weather, several may huddle together in a burrow to keep warm....
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Southern Red Backed Vole

For Students 4th - 8th
Southern Red-backed Voles, like other voles, are active year-round. They do not hibernate or reduce their metabolism and enter a state of torpor to conserve energy against the cold. Learn more about the Clethrionomys gapperi, more...