Imagine this: a world where animals sport winter coats fancier than our warmest scarves, where icy landscapes transform into bustling habitats, and where each snowflake whispers tales of the wild. Today, help your toddlers and preschoolers through mission to decode the mysteries of winter animal activities. Add these animals in winter preschool activities to your winter science experiments for preschoolers!
When completing these what do animals do in the winter activities, preschoolers will learn the cool science behind our winter pals and what activities for arctic animals look like during the winter.
Get ready for paw prints in the snow, whimsical tales of survival, and a sprinkle of snowy science magic!
Winter Animals Theme Ideas
Animals in winter preschool activities are the perfect hands-on preschool lesson plans to show preschoolers how animals survive and thrive in even the coldest climates.
Keep scrolling to find activity ideas for a preschool winter animals theme, but first, lear more about the information you need before teaching any of these activities for an arctic animals.
Table of Contents
Winter Teacher Shirts
Here are some fun shirts that teachers will love wearing during the winter months.
Spread Kindness Like Snowflakes Teacher Shirt
Proud Supporter of Snow Days Teacher Shirt
Reading is Snow Much Fun Teacher Shirt
I Need a Snow Day Teacher Shirt
Supporter of Snow Days Teacher Sweatshirt
Arm yourself with knowledge on how animals adapt during the winter with these animals in winter science facts!
How Animals Adapt to Survive During the Winter
Animals have different ways of adapting and surviving during the winter months. Share these facts with your class while doing animals in winter preschool activities.
Here are the most common methods that animals use to survive the harsh winter months.
Hibernate: Some animals, like bears and groundhogs, hibernate during the winter. They go into a deep sleep and use very little energy. This helps them survive when food is scarce and the weather is cold.
Migrate: Many birds and some animals, like butterflies and whales, migrate to warmer places during the winter. They fly or swim to areas where they can find food and avoid the cold.
Grow Thick Fur or Feathers: Some animals grow thicker fur or feathers in the winter. This extra layer of insulation helps keep them warm in the cold weather.
Find Shelter: Animals like squirrels and rabbits find shelter in burrows or nests. They create cozy homes where they can stay warm and safe from predators.
Store Food: Some animals, like chipmunks and beavers, gather extra food in the fall and store it for the winter. They have special hiding spots to keep their food from freezing.
Change Colors: Some animals, like the Arctic fox, change the color of their fur to blend in with the snowy landscape. This camouflage helps them hide from predators and sneak up on prey.
Slow Down: Cold-blooded animals like frogs and turtles become less active in the winter. They move very slowly or even stop moving altogether to conserve energy.
Eat Snow: Some animals, like deer and rabbits, eat snow to stay hydrated when water sources are frozen. They can melt the snow in their warm bodies to drink.
Team Up: Animals like penguins huddle together in large groups to stay warm. By staying close, they share body heat and protect each other from the cold.
Read some of these books about animals in winter preschool activities to learn more about how animals survive in the winter!
Animals in Winter Books
Here are some of our favorite books about animals in the winter and arctic animals!
What do Critters do in the Winter?
Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers
Examples of Hands-on Winter Animal Activities for Preschoolers
Here are some ways that even the youngest scientists can learn all about animals in winter through animals in winter preschool activities.
Set up a meteorological station in your preschool classroom to measure and record daily winter weather conditions. Preschoolers can explore the impact of temperature, precipitation, and wind on local wildlife.
Harness the engineering skills of preschoolers by challenging them to design and create a model of an animal with special adaptations for winter survival. This hands-on activity promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills as students consider factors such as insulation, camouflage, and food storage.
More Winter Animal Activities for Preschool
Here are more winter animal activities and winter animal crafts for preschool that your students might like!
- Penguin Winter Sensory Bin
- 1 Simple Way to Make Math Fun with Counting Bears Printables
- Hide the Reindeer STEM Activity
- Hibernation Station STEM Challenge
Preschoolers will be fascinated by winter animal activities for preschoolers that examine animal tracks in the snow. 3 to 5 year olds can learn to identify what types of animals in the winter make what kinds of tracks in the snow or mud.
Here are some resources you can use in your classroom to explore hibernation, adaptation, and survival that different animals do in the winter months.
Winter Animal Teaching Resources
Here are some supplies and tools to use with your students while learning about winter animals.
Plant and Animal Needs STEM Kit
Arctic and Antarctic Activity Book for Kids
Winter Animal Survival Facts
Here are some fascinating winter animal facts that preschoolers will love!
Much like our preschoolers dressing up in faux fur to stay warm during our winter exploration, the Arctic fox changes its fur color to match the changing seasons. In the summer, its coat becomes a lush brown or gray to blend in with the tundra, camouflaging against the rocky landscape.
Ever wonder how birds stay warm in winter? Birds fluff up their feathers to create insulating layers of air, providing natural warmth. It’s like wearing a cozy winter jacket, but they’ve got it built-in!
Even fish in frozen lakes have a nifty trick to survive winter. They enter a state of “torpor,” slowing down their metabolism to conserve energy. Some even have a built-in antifreeze-like substance in their blood to prevent ice crystals from forming.
Monarch butterflies embark on an incredible winter migration journey each year. They travel thousands of miles to reach warmer climates in Mexico and South America.
Snowshoe hares are nature’s quick-change artists. In winter, their fur turns white to blend in with the snowy landscape, while in warmer months, it changes to brown to match the forest floor.
Black bears aren’t true hibernators, but they enter a state of torpor during winter. However, black bears can still “sleepwalk” during this time, covering short distances while remaining in a deep slumber.
Animals in Winter Preschool Activities STEM Extension Ideas
Let your preschoolers watch this what do animals do in the winter video for kids before completing their animals in winter preschool activities, then consider adding some of these STEM extensions when completing your preschool winter lesson plan or winter animal crafts for preschoolers.
Create a mini Arctic expedition right in the preschool classroom! Set up a sensory station with snow-like textures, encouraging kids to explore the different materials that mimic the cold environments animals face.
Take a digital expedition of animals in winter using videos and other digital learning tools to that transport students to the icy landscapes where polar bears roam and penguins waddle.
Invite preschoolers to create their own winter animal habitats for an artistic twist. Using a mix of recycled materials and craft supplies, they can build a miniature world where animals thrive in the snow.
Preschoolers can try their hand at engineering by constructing mini igloos using marshmallows and toothpicks, exploring the architectural brilliance behind these snow shelters.
Organize a snowflake counting activity to infuse a bit of mathematics into the mix. Cut out paper snowflakes of varying sizes and have the students arrange them numerically.
Animals in Winter Activity Ideas for Preschoolers
Check out this list of winter animal activities that you can do with your preschool classroom!
Over 20 Animals in Winter Preschool Activities
Preschoolers will have a blast with these hands-on animals in winter preschool activities that will teach preschoolers all about how animals adapt, change, migrate, and hibernate to survive even the harshest winters.
Preschoolers will love this hands-on wintery sensory bin featuring toy penguins.
Here are some fun penguin counting activities that are fun to do with preschoolers in the winter.
These winter sensory activities can teach kids all about what weather animals face in the winter months.
Preschoolers will love making this fun snowy owl craft while learning about the snowy owl.
Preschoolers will have fun making these winter animal crafts using craft rolls.
Who says you can’t have a sweet tooth and learn science at the same time? Explore the cozy side of winter wildlife by creating dens using marshmallows!
Time to Break the Ice! Dive deep into the impact of climate change on these majestic creatures as you witness the challenges they face with diminishing ice habitats.
Engage young explorers in a hands-on experience, allowing them to feel, see, and identify different animal tracks. This immersive activity sparks curiosity and connects children to the fascinating world of wildlife through their senses.
This hands-on experience explores insulation, blubber, and other cool adaptations that help them brave icy environments. It's a frosty adventure that makes learning about animal adaptations as exciting as a dip in the Arctic sea!
This hands-on activity allows kids to visually compare and contrast the sizes of Arctic animals, providing a fun and educational perspective on the vast range of wildlife in the icy landscapes.
In this engaging activity,preschoolers will uncover the secrets behind the polar bear's snowy coat through hands-on experiments and playful learning. It's a frosty and fun introduction to the world of science that sparks curiosity and provides a peek into the adaptations of these majestic Arctic inhabitants.
This creative challenge invites kids to design and construct their own cozy caves using everyday materials. It's an engaging and hands-on activity that not only sparks imagination but also introduces fundamental engineering concepts in a fun and exciting way.
Winter Wardrobes: The Stylish Secrets of Animal Adaptations
Through engaging discussions and hands-on exploration, preschoolers can uncover the secrets behind how creatures from various habitats gear up for the chilly challenges.
This hands-on activity takes kids on an interactive journey, exploring the fascinating adaptations of penguins. From understanding how these flightless birds stay warm in icy waters to discovering their incredible swimming abilities, this experiment is a splash of educational delight.
This hands-on winter animal not only introduces preschoolers to the wonders of Arctic animals but also provides a sensory delight as they navigate through the slime avalanche. It's a playful and imaginative journey that combines science, creativity, and lots of slippery fun!
This hands-on activity introduces preschoolers to the physics of friction and helps them understand how penguins effortlessly glide on icy surfaces. It's a cool and educational adventure that combines fun with learning, allowing young minds to unravel the wonders of penguin locomotion on the frosty ice.
Kids will giggle and learn as they explore the science of friction and discover how penguins effortlessly glide on icy surfaces. This hands-on activity combines fun and education, offering an interactive way for young minds to grasp the physics behind the adorable waddling of these chilly champions.
Icy Critter Wonderland: Polar Animals and Arctic Ice Sensory Play!
hrough hands-on experimentation and observation, little scientists will discover the secrets of how these adorable birds glide and waddle with ease. It's a playful and educational experience that combines the joy of discovery with the charm of penguins in their icy habitats.
Winter Whiskers and Cozy Paws: Preschool Animal Adventures!
This engaging and educational series of activities introduces little ones to the fascinating ways animals adapt during winter. From exploring hibernation and migration to creating winter habitats and crafts, each activity sparks curiosity and makes learning about the chilly season a delightful adventure.
Caffeine Themed Merch for Teachers
Could any of us get through the day without caffeine? Whether you take if via coffee, soda, or tea,tell the world how important caffeine is to you with these fun caffeine-themed t-shirts and caffeine-themed accessories for teachers.
Coffee Teach Repeat Teacher Tote
Half Coffee Half Teacher Teacher Shirt
Coffee Books Oxford Commas Teacher Shirt
Drink Coffee Teach Kids Teacher Shirt
Coffee Gives Me Teacher Powers Teacher Sweatshirt
Coffee Teach Repeat Teacher Earrings
Crayons, Kids, Caffeine Teacher Tote
You Can’t Spell Teacher without Tea Teacher Mug
Teacher Fuel Sticker Pack for Teachers
