Animals in Winter for Kids: Migrate, Hibernate or Adapt (Grade 1 and 2 Science)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Winter can be cold, snowy and hard for animals, because food is harder to find. Animals have three big ways to survive. They migrate, hibernate or adapt.

To migrate means to travel to a warmer place for the winter. Many geese fly south in big groups. Monarch butterflies fly thousands of miles to warm forests. In spring, they come back.

To hibernate means to go into a very deep sleep. The animal's heart slows down, and its body gets cooler. Groundhogs, bats and some ground squirrels hibernate, living on stored body fat.

Bears rest in dens for much of the winter too. Their sleep is not quite as deep, and they can wake up more easily. They still eat lots in the fall to build up fat.

Animals that stay awake adapt. Foxes and deer grow thicker coats. Squirrels store nuts to eat later. The snowshoe hare turns white so it can hide in the snow.

Some small animals find shelter. Insects hide under bark or in the ground. Some frogs burrow into mud or leaves. Chickadees fluff their feathers and huddle in tree holes to stay warm.

Now it's your turn. Canada geese fly hundreds of miles south when it gets cold. Do they migrate, hibernate or adapt? Pause and try. They migrate, because they travel to a warmer place.

Great job! Remember, in winter some animals migrate to warmer places, some hibernate, and others adapt to the cold. Practice animals in winter in the Science Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!