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Hibernation is pretty complicated, but you can use this simple song
to introduce the concept to children beginning with a discussion
with the following limited facts:
Not
all animals hibernate
Animals
that do hibernate go into a deep sleep, sometimes for many months
Animals
don’t eat while they are hibernating
Animals
begin and end hibernation depending on when it gets cold and warms
up, and
it’s different for different animals.
I suggest
you check out an easy non-fiction book about hibernating animals
from your local
library, or Google “interesting facts about hibernating animals” for
more information. And as always,
www.Enchantedlearning.com has great printouts and information.
Now back to the song! Although you can just listen to it, I have
recorded it with
dramatization in mind. Divide the children into four different
animals in the song and tell
them to move around until the song says they are hibernating. Bears
usually hibernate alone, but snakes snuggle together! You might hold
up a picture of each animal as its verse is sung so children can see
as well as hear when it’s their turn to go to sleep. I have left
some instrumental time for them to wake up and go looking for food,
then go to sleep again one by one in the last verse.
Hibernating Animals
The bears
are hibernating, oh yes the bears are hibernating
They’re snuggled down in their dens like all of their friends
Just waiting for the spring to come.
Oh, the bears are hibernating again
The snakes are hibernating, oh yes the snakes are hibernating
They’re snuggled down in their dens with all of their friends
Just waiting for the spring to come.
Oh the snakes are hibernating again
The bats are hibernating, oh yes the bats are hibernating
They’re sleeping upside down, hanging around
Just waiting for the spring to come.
Oh, the bats are hibernating again
The frogs are hibernating, oh yes the frogs are hibernating
They’re snuggled down in the ground where they don’t make a sound
Just waiting for the spring to come.
Oh, the frogs are hibernating again
But when
the spring comes with the warming sun
The animals will start to move
They’re in a hungry mood, they go a looking for food
They’re getting back in the groove
But now
the bears are hibernating and the snakes are hibernating
The bats are hanging around sleeping upside down
Just waiting for the spring to come
Oh, the frogs are hibernating again
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