Fall is my very favorite time of year. But even as I’m enjoying the fiery colors and ice-free sidewalks and trails, I’m aware that it’s a short season here in Minnesota. And part of fall is getting reading for winter. People, just like other animals, get ready for winter in lots of ways. Here are a few things you can do in your classroom to celebrate and learn about animal behaviors and adaptations that help them get ready for winter:
- With students, brainstorm some ways they’re getting ready for winter.
- Read Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle to learn about the three categories of winter survival techniques.
- Call a naturalist at a local park or nature center to find out what animals in your region are up to.
- Go on a nature walk to look for signs of preparation for winter—like squirrels carrying acorns away.
- Check out the book resources at the link above, including downloadables!
[My Classroom Connections posts share a way to connect one of my books or poems to a classroom topic–often something timely that you might be covering in the next month or so. Please share this post if you have educator friends who might be interested–thanks!]