index

Hibernation

Introduction

Could you imagine sleeping all through winter? You wouldn't go to school, you wouldn't see snow, and you wouldn't see your family and friends until spring time. There are a lot of animals that do sleep all through winter and this is called hibernation. Why do animals hibernate? Well we are going to become explorers and figure this one out!!

Task

You and a partner will...
* Find out why animals hibernate.
* Do an experiment that shows what will happen as
   your body rests and create charts to show your results..
* Make a poster board showing your results and
   explanations.

Process

1. Choose a partner
2. Learn about hibernation by Clicking here and here
3. Get a worksheet from the teacher and fill out
    your answers.
4. After you finished the worksheet, go to the back table and get 1
    stop watch and 2 charts (1 chart for each person)
5. Sit and rest for 1 minute. After the minute, check your heart rate
    (pulse) by taking your 2 index fingers of one hand and placing
    them in the middle of your wrist on your other hand (palms facing
    up). Press down until you feel a pulse.
6. Once you feel your pulse, set your stop watch for 30 seconds
    and in this time, count the beats in your pulse.
7. After 30 seconds, write down your pulse (number of beats) on the
    chart under Trail 1.
8. Rest for another minute and then take another 30 min. pulse. Keep     doing this until all 5 pulses are taken.
9. After the 5 trials are taken, jump up and down for 2 minutes and
    take another 30 minute pulse. Write results in Trail 6.
10. Create a poster: Include your worksheets, charts, explanation of
     how this experiement relates to hibernation (most instruction
     given by teacher), and pictures.

Evaluation

Each pair of partners will present their poster board to the class!

Conclusion

Now you should have an understanding of why animals hibernate. You also had a little experience of what happens to the heart rate as a person, or animal rests. Remember this information as we continue on our exploration of hibernation!

Resources

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/timetosleep.htm
www.nk2.psu.edu/naturetrail/winter/hibernation.htm
www.expage.com/page1/mrsgwinter2

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws