As Groundhog Day approached, the children were engaged in a constructive debate and conversation on whether or not Wiarton Willy would predict a longer winter or an early spring. As conversation grew, some of the children began to share that they would prefer the longer winter because they loved playing hockey, skiing and other winter activities, while others wanted it to be over so they would not have to wear winter clothes and boots.
Talking about Groundhog Day sparked the conversation about why groundhogs and other animals hibernate in the winter. Claire exclaimed to the group “Hibernation is when animals go into a deep sleep.” “They eat lots of food before hibernating because it’s hard to find food in the winter.” Max added. “They can’t survive in the cold.” exclaimed Sriya. To expand on this interest and to gain further insight into hibernation, the group took the opportunity to watch a ‘Hibernation for kids’ video. This allowed the group to gain insight and to understand what animals do to survive the freezing cold temperatures. Not all animals hibernate, some migrate to warmer climates, while others adapt by growing thicker fur and change color to blend in to protect them from predators. Some bugs and insects are frozen solid and thaws out when the temperature warms up. Through this ongoing conversation, children were able to learn that all animals adapt in a different way. We look to continue to expand on this interest through various other learning opportunities.
