Winter

By Kimberly Fraser

What is Winter???

* Winter is the coldest time of year in Canada.

* The first day of Winter is December 21. This day is called the WINTER SOLSTICE

Why is the Winter Colder??* The Earth is tilted

slightly on its axis. As the Earth turns around the sun, that tilt angles the Northern Hemisphere toward the sun for part of the orbit and away from the sun for another part.

How do you stay warm in Winter?

* Wear warm clothes like heavy sweaters.

* Put extra blankets on the bed.

* Always wear a warm coat, hat, and mitts when you go outside to play.

* Drink hot chocolate.

* Ask a grownup to turn the heat up.

* Stay inside on very cold days.

How do animals stay warm ???

S o m e M IG R A TE S o m e H IB E R N A TE S o m e A D A P T

W h at a n im a ls d o to s ta y w arm in th e w in te r.

Migrate

* Migrate means the animals travel to other places where the weather is warmer and they can find food when the weather here becomes too cold and food is too hard to find.

* Can you name some animals that migrate?

An Animal that Migrates* In the fall, Canadian

geese gather in huge groups to fly south for the winter.

* When they fly south,

geese fly in a V formation.

Hibernate

* Hibernate means the animals enter a very deep sleep when the weather gets cold. The animal does not wake up until the temperature becomes warmer.

* Do you know any animals that hibernate?

An Animal that Hibernates

* A bear is an animal that hibernates (sleeps) for the entire winter.

* The bear eats a great deal in the fall then looks for a den to spend the winter in.

* Some great dens would be a cave, an old tree or rock ledges.

Adapt

* Some animals adapt. This means they change their body or their behavior to match the environment.

* What are the names of some animals that adapt?

An Animal that Adapts* Rabbits adapt to

winter by their fur turning white. This helps them hide from other animals that may want them for lunch!!

How???* The white of their fur

blends in with the white of the snow

How do the animals know??

* Most scientists say that the animals know when to migrate, hibernate, and adapt by the amount of daylight each day and the cooler temperatures.

* Animals ARE very smart.

• We can make birdfeeders out of milk cartons or plastic jugs and fill them with bird seed.

• We can make suet balls, peanut butter balls and strings of cranberries and popcorn for the birds.

What can we do to help Animals?

Special Thanks to:

* How Animals Spend the Winter

* Environment Canada

* Four Seasons