What do animals do now that winter is coming? They have some choices and instinct drives them to decide what to do as food becomes scarce.
You sorted pictures of animals into the three groups of animals that migrate, animals that hibernate and animals that stay and adapt. Then, after the discussion about which category you sorted them into, you played a game where you migrated, hibernated, or stayed and adapted. What happened when winter came and you weren't all the way to your next place? (frozen in place)
Over at Butterfly Hill, you built cozy dens for skunks or a comfy drey for squirrels using lots of leaves, sticks, long grasses and long wheat. What were some of the special features of your home? Firefly had a door that opened and an elevator, Water Bear had a community hall next door, Blue Racer and Rose built a 5-star hotel with a TV and 2 remotes with bugs close by for food, Sunflower had a hollow part of a branch where the squirrels could hide from predators, Fox and Pin Cherry had lots of soft leaves and grasses for a comfy bed, Owl and Wolf had an entrance right by the tree trunk for their squirrels with good protection from rain and snow, Daisy's was right beside water and food with an outline of sticks)
There's always time for great conversations when out walking or at lunch time. Today Water Bear, Owl and Tamarack had a great discussion of whether squirrels had good memories and whether the left over nuts were an aid to produce more trees. Water Bear says that oak trees have a cycle where they have lots of acorns every few year to give the best chance for their seedlings to grow.
After lunch, at library, you read with a buddy for reading buddies and then, Grey Squirrel read us a book of how animals stay and adapt. Do you remember the cool cut away picture of the dam? What other ways do animals stay and adapt to winter?
What great imaginations at Mystery Forest! You made a swing and gave rides for 2 pieces of cedar. You made a grocery store with wild cucumbers and some winter wheat for snacks. Yummy!
Back at the hall, you wrote facts and drew pictures of your homes that you built for the squirrels or skunks and also completed more of your spool knitting. Has your knitting come through the other end yet? Many of you have accomplished this!
As you go for walks or hikes, look out for dreys for squirrels and dens for skunks. You can watch to see which animals have left for warmer climates or are starting to hibernate.
We hope to have Beaver back with us next week. Share about her letter to us today.
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