Make-it Topic - Hibernation

Imaginative

• Use a box and pillows place out costumes have the children be hibernating animals tents can be used also
• Have paper berries attached to a wall, let the children pick berries for winter 
• Place out pillows, blankets and flashlights, allow the children to pretend to be outside hibernating

Language

• Read the poem time for sleeping use flannel boards to help tell the poem 
• Now, it’s time for sleeping
  The bears go in their caves
  It keeps them warm and cozy
  Time for lazy days
  When the snow is gone & the sun comes out to play
  The bears will wake up from their sleep and then go on to play. 

• Read “What’s Hibernation”
• Read “Wake me in the spring” discuss what favourite things the children do in the winter 
• Read “Bear snores on” 
• Make flannel board animals for a story of the Mitten by Jan Brett

Art

• Place out leaves, branches, a small box or cup allow the children to make a den
• Make pom-pom creatures 
• Place a picture of a bear allow the children to paint it
• Place out a half of Styrofoam ball for a porcupine allow the children to stick toothpicks in and glue on eyes place out paint if desired 
• Place out different magazine pictures of animals, have the children make a collage
• Place an animal sticker on a paper, allow the children to paint, color, glue sprinkle to help it hibernate
• Make snow pictures using cotton balls

Water/Sand

• Add small animals, cups and boxes to the sand table 
• Place a small amount of fish, gravel or sand in the bottom of the water add snails, snakes, lizards for hibernating in use spoons and sifts
• Add leaves to the table with bugs and ladles

Gross Motor

• Hibernating animal hunt, hide plastic animals around, show the children photos of the animals to find
• Musical hibernation, place out different color mats, play music, have the children dance as different animals when the music stops they “hibernate” on a mat 
• Go on a bear hunt singing the song 
• Place out different size boxes and baskets have the children try to fit in each one 
• Have a hibernation day have the children wear their pyjamas, make forts out of pillows and blankets eat berries and bears for snack

Science/Curiosity

• Place out different mittens have the children see what feels warmer
• Place a piece of ice in the open and another in a cloth see which melts faster, this can be done with an ice in a baggy and one in Lard 
• Place out fir for the children to feel and discuss why the animal stays warm
• If possible place out a nest of a bird and bee with magnifier glasses allow the children explore it 
• Bring a box outside, have the children sit in the box, is it warmer or colder in the box
• Place out different dried berries with photos of non-dried fruit

Blocks

• Place out little boxes and animals
• Use different size sticks for building with
•  If possible, suspend a dark color sheet or piece of fabric over the block area to make it a bit dark. Add small stuffed or other toy animals, snakes, frogs and bees in the block area and encourage the children to make winter homes for them to sleep in
• Use the straws and connectors for the children to build their own caves

Conceptual/Table top/Fine motor

• Place out pictures of caves, frozen water, trees,  mud and a house have pictures of animals and people, encourage the children to place the animals where they hibernate
• Place out tweezers, foam cups with  pom-poms and a bin of  plastic leaves encourage the children to pick up the pom-poms using tweezers and place in the cups for the “bugs” to sleep 
• Play a memory game of animals
• Place out play dough and animals to create with
• Use animal counters and different size containers, allow the children to count how many animals fit in one container
• Cut photos of animals in different ways, have the children place them back together

Music

• Sing the song Little bear do the actions 
• Are you sleeping
  Are you sleeping
  Little bear
  Little Bear
  You will sleep all winter
  Through the cold, cold winter,
  Little bear
  Are you sleeping
  Are you sleeping
  Little bear
  You will wake in springtime
  In the warm, warm springtime,
  Little bear
  Little bear

Quiet

• Place out a blanket between chairs add some pillows and books add a flannel board with animals 
• Use a small child pool fill with string confetti and books

Cooking

• Use a metal bear shaped cookie cutter to make fun shaped Jell-O, sandwiches, or cookies 
• Make a trail mix for the hibernating children

Field trip

• Helen Schuler nature center
• Local pet store
• Invite a conservation officer to talk 
• Birds of prey center

Holiday Hazards

Keeping children safe during the holidays:

Festive Foods

• Keep nuts and candies well out of reach
• Remind visitors to keep any alcoholic beverages out of reach
• Check the ingredients before giving anything to your child

Christmas Trees

• Pine needles can pierce skin or become lodged in throats, they can also cause a fire risk
• Ensure your child cannot pull the tree over

Decorations

• Place decorations with small detachable pieces up high
• Ensure heavy or fragile decorations cannot fall off onto your child
• Knowing which Christmas plants are poisonous - and keeping them well away.
• Ensure lit Menorahs and Christmas candles are constantly supervised, out of reach, and in a secure place
• Remember candy canes are a choking hazard as well

Toys

• Check toys thoroughly before passing to your child
• Ensure they are age appropriate
• Have not been recalled
• Do not have cords or ribbons which could pose a strangulation risk
• Do not contain sharp or jagged edges, or small easily detachable parts
• Are non-toxic
• Keep track of and dispose of all toy packaging (especially the small wires and plastic tabs used to hold the toy in place)

Sourced from What's Up Kids magazine, 2007 Holiday issue