Fall is a great time to start investigating wildlife in winter preparation. Some animals spend the fall caching food in places so they have enough to last the season. Some animals spend the fall moving to a place where they can meet their needs. Some animals put on fat and sleep through the winter. And there are some animals that stick it out and search each day to fulfill their basic needs.

Press play to hear descriptions for a wildlife winter needs outdoor scavenger hunt for kindergarteners and a hot potato exposure experiment for 3rd graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.

During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how they relate to wildlife in winter preparation activities for kindergarten and 3rd grade, and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level.

Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode:

• K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
• 3-LS2-1: Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.

Resources mentioned 💚

• Episode 90: 6 Picture Books to Introduce Animals Getting Ready for Winter for Elementary-Aged Learners
• Episode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching Outside
• Naturally Teaching Activity Index

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode91

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November is a time for animals to get ready for winter! The migrators are the first to go and then slowly the other animals follow. Let's investigate how animals prepare to survive the season of scarcity!

Books are a great way to introduce animals getting ready for winter. In this episode, I give you a brief summary of books to introduce animals getting ready for winter and my thoughts on how they can help you with your learners.

Books in this episode 📚

1. Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft and Richard G. Van Gelder, illustrated by Helen K. Davie
2. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
3. Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming
4. Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter by Martha E. H. Rustad, illustrated by Amanda Enright
5. Not a Buzz to Be Found by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Jaime Zollars
6. Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter by Jessica Kulekjian, illustrated by Salini Perera

Want to view all of these books in one place? Check them out here!

(Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you)

Resources mentioned 💚

• “Teaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary Classrooms.”

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode90

🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index

🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching

💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com

📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching

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Seeds are everywhere and so are the opportunities to investigate seed dispersal! Let's take advantage of what's happening right outside your classroom windows and do some seed dispersal activities that will help you fulfill your curricular goals this fall.

Press play to hear descriptions for a seed dispersal engineering opportunity for 2nd graders and a gravity experiment for 5th graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.

During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to seed dispersal, and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level.

Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode:

• 2-LS2-2: Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants.
• 5-PS2-1: Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.

Resources mentioned 💚

• Episode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching Outside
• Episode 88: Seed Games 1st and 4th Graders This Fall
• Episode 86: 6 Seed Books for Teaching Elementary-Aged Learners
• Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move by Joann Early Macken, illustrated by Pam Paparone
• Seeds Move! By Robin Page
• Seed Dispersal Types: 6 Innovative Ways Seeds Travel To New Places
• Miss Maple’s Seeds Book Companion for 2nd Grade
• Naturally Teaching Activity Index

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode89

🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index

🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching

💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com

📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching

💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching