Animals

On Monday, we reviewed animal needs and the ways animals are alike. Then we talked about animal life cycles and compared them to our life cycle. In May, we will be doing a unit on life cycles where we will be doing an inquiry unit on frogs. 

On Tuesday, we learned how animals adapt to their environment. We learned that as winter approaches animals and people must adapt to the cold weather. People put on warmer coats and hats and animals grow warmer thicker winter fur coats. Some animals change their summer brown coats to white ones to stay safe from enemies. 

On Thursday, we discussed hibernation. Cold blooded animals take the temperature of the air around them. They get energy from food, but because their bodies aren't warm they do not need as much food or energy. In cold weather their bodies get very cold and they have a long 'sleep' called hibernation. We learned that snakes, frogs, worms, and lizards all hibernate during winter. We also learned that some warm-blooded animals hibernate. Their body temperature goes down to just above freezing, their hearts beat very very slowly and they sleep through winter. Animals eat as much as they can in the fall to gain fat and grow a warmer fur coat for hibernation.

On Friday, we discussed migration. We learned that migration is when animals go where it is warmer and where food can be found. A migrating animal needs to be able to travel long distances, find their way to where they need to go and find food.  Not all animals hibernate as most can adapt to the winter conditions.