Hiders, Seekers, Finders, Keepers

LESSON 4

Children explore how animals survive winter by actively participating in the story and a sorting activity.

  • The book, “Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter,” by Jessica Kulekjian.

  • Forest animal figurines or pictures

  • Sorting containers or spaces labeled: Hibernate, Migrate, Adapt

Materials

  • Gather materials

  • Set up sorting containers or spaces for hibernation, migration, and adaptation.

Preparations

  • Facilitate reflection by asking questions about the previous play activity.

  • Introduce the story "Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers" and guide the child through its key concepts.

  • Lead a discussion about the winter survival strategies of animals mentioned in the story.

  • Assist the child in the hands-on sorting activity, encouraging conversation about each animal's unique adaptation.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children engage in reflection about the previous play activity, reinforcing understanding of winter animal preparation.

  • Children learn and understand the concepts of hibernation, migration, and adaptation through the story "Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers."

  • Children participate in a hands-on sorting activity to categorize forest animals based on their winter survival strategies.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

  • Create actions and practice saying the poem together.

Animals in Winter

When winter comes and it starts to snow,

Animals need food and a place to go.

Bears sleep tight in their den or cave.

Squirrels gather nuts to hide and save.

Birds fly south to the warmth and sun.

Beavers stay in homes until winter is done.

Activity Flow

  1. Begin the lesson by asking reflective questions about the previous play activity:

  • What animals were preparing for winter in your play?

  • How did they get ready for winter?

  • Did your animal build a warm home or nest?

2. Share with your child that today, you'll explore how animals survive winter in three different ways through the story "Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter." Encourage your child to pay attention as you read and see if they can discover those three special ways.

3. After reading the story, talk about the different ways animals stay warm throughout winter.

  • What did the hiders do to stay warm? (hibernate)

  • How about the seekers? (migrate)

  • And the finders, what did they keep to help them survive winter? (adapt)

4. Transition to the hands-on activity. Use pictures or figurines of forest animals and sort them into categories (hibernate, migrate, or adapt). Discuss each animal's special ability to survive the cold months as you sort them.

5. Encourage the child to reflect on what they've learned about animal survival in winter. Extend the learning by exploring more examples of animals that hibernate, migrate, or adapt in your local environment. Consider incorporating a nature walk to observe signs of these behaviors in the natural world.

6. After the lesson, have your child pick an animal they want to learn more about. Consider a visit to the local library to find books about their chosen animal. If that's not an option, the internet is another valuable resource.