Preparing for Winter: A Hibernation Webquest

Introduction

This is a webquest about hibernation and the preparation animals must go through before winter sets in. In this webquest, you will take on the role of an animal who hibernates, and prepare for winter.

Introduction

How do animals survive during the winter months?  Where do they find food?  How do they stay warm?

This webquest will introduce you to an adaptation for survival called hibernation.  You will learn why some animals hibernate during the winter months, and what would happen if they did not hibernate.  You will be researching websites and learning how animals prepare for the winter months, and how they survive during the winter months.  You will also have the opportunity to watch a video in which animals are hibernating.

 

Task

You are a research scientist. You want to know why some animals hibernate during the winter.  It is your job to study three different types of animals who hibernate. 

As a team or independently, you must study each animal. Your choices are: American black bears, fresh water turtles, or  chipmunks.

 

Process

1. Each scientist will go to their animal's website (or other websites and sources)and conduct research about that animal.

http://www.bear.org/website/

Fresh Water Turtles

Chipmunks

Additional Bear Resources:

Bear Hibernation Information

Chipmunk Resources:

Wikipedia Page on Chipmunks

Water Turtle Resources:

How Turtles Hibernate Through the Winter

Snapping Turtles

How are the animals' behaviors similar and different from one another?

Options for presenation:

  • Put together a tri-fold board or poster.  On the board, you will write the information you have discovered about your animal's hibernation patterns.  You will also glue your pictures onto the board.  As a group or independently, you will write how your animals are similar and place it in the middle of the board. 
  • Create a powerpoint or prezi with the information you ahve discovered about your animal's hibernation patterns. Find pictures/videos to showcase each animal. Be sure to include how your animals are similar and different.
  • Create an informational video with an iphone/ipad that showcases each animal, and talks about their similarties or differences. Be sure to include pictures of each animal.

 

Evaluation

Rubric

 

Information on each animal’s hibernation patterns- _______/ 75

 

Pictures/Videos of each animal- _______/30

 

Similarities and Differences between each animal- _____ / 60

 

Creative presentation- _____/35

 

 

Total points: _______ / 200

Conclusion

You have learned that animals who hibernate do so to survive harsh winters.  Think about some things we do to survive during the winter.  We do not hibernate, but we have our own way of surviving.  We put on extra clothing, we turn the heat up in our homes, we may even eat more food to keep ourselves warm.