Episode

57. Winter Animals and Hibernation: 1st and 4th Grade NGSS Activities

Podcast
Naturally Teaching Elementary: A Podcast for Teachers and Homeschool Families
Published
Feb 16, 2026
Duration seconds
717
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Canonical source
https://naturallyteaching.com/episode57
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https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/45ef58d7-c706-475b-aa9d-459af3866a01.mp3
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Markdown
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Summary

Winter is a time of scarcity for both animals as well as teachers and homeschool parents trying to find engaging and experiential activities for their learners. Let me help you out with these two activities for 1st and 4th graders inspired by winter animals and hibernation! Press play to hear descriptions for a hibernation animal sort and hike for 1st graders and a predator role playing experience for 4th graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to winter animals and hibernation, 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: 1-LS1-2: Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive 4-LS1-1: Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 56: Signs of Animals in Winter: Kindergarten and 3rd Grade NGSS Activities Episode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching Outside Episode 29: Hibernation in Animals: 6 Dormancy Activities for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Groups . Animal Hibernation Asleep or Awake Sort Hibernation Preparation Movement Cube for 1st Grade (Ambulatory Cube) Animal Migration Sort Winter Animal Adaptations Sort | Hibernation, Migration, Adaptation Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode57 🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index 🛒 TpT Shop: Naturall…