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Back to Groundhog Day Lesson Plan

Subjects

• Arts & Humanities
  --Language Arts
  
• Science
  --Life Sciences
  ----Animals
  --Holidays
  

Grade

• K-2
• 3-5
• 6-8
  

Brief Description

Find the hidden hibernators in this word search puzzle.

Objectives

Students will

• find 15 animal names hidden in a word search puzzle.

Keywords

groundhog, woodchuck, hibernation, winter

Materials Needed

• Hibernation Word Search Puzzle work sheet (one copy per student)

Lesson Plan

Introduce the concept of hibernation to students. Explain that many animals sleep during all or part of the winter.

• Some animals go into a deep sleep. Their body temperature drops to just above freezing and their hearts beat very slowly. These animals are true hibernators. A groundhog is an example of a true hibernator.
• Other animals, such as skunks and raccoons, are much lighter sleepers. They occasionally awaken to eat during the winter. Their body temperature and heartbeats do not change in the way true hibernators' bodies do.

Provide each student with a copy of the Hibernation Word Search Puzzle. Have students find in the puzzle the names of 16 animals that hibernate during winter months.

Extend the Lesson
Challenge students to learn more about the hibernation habits of each animal listed on the puzzle page and of other animals that hibernate. Each student might research a different hibernating animal. Which of the animals are true hibernators?

Assessment

Lesson Plan Source

Education World

National Standards

LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills

SCIENCE
GRADES K - 4
NS.K-4.3 Life Science
GRADES 5 - 8
NS.5-8.3 Life Science

Find more lessons for teaching about Groundhog Day on Education World's February Holiday Page.

Click to return to this week's lesson, Groundhog Day: Fill Your Day With (Punxsutawney) Phil Fun.

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