Subject: Science
Duration: Approximately 105 minutes


Objectives:
-       Students will be able to identify animals and varying hibernation habitats
-       Students will understand the reason behind hibernation
-       Students will develop research and inquiry skills
-       Students will develop their application skills as well as being able to transfer learning

Materials:
-       Hibernation Images
-       Chart Paper
-       Art materials (paint, paper, glue, scissors, pencils, pencil crayons, clay)
-       Paper and pen

Lesson

Engage:
This lesson will begin with the teacher showing the class images of animals hibernating, the images will also include images of dens and nests, areas where animals go to hibernate to demonstrate that animals choose safe places out of the way of predators. These images will be used as a guide for the students to make their art projects.

Explore:
Students will be placed in groups of five and they will each be given a different hibernating animal. The groups will have to use resources within the classroom, books, and the internet in order to answer the following questions. Does this animal hibernate? When and for how long does it hibernate? Where does it hibernate? Why does it hibernate? Once each group has answered these questions on a sheet of paper the class will reassemble as a group and they will go over their answers.

Explain:
In this portion of the class the teacher will build of the information gathered by the students, the teacher will create a chart of hibernation facts on the chalkboard or on chart paper for the students to use as a reference. She will go into depth about hibernation, making sure to touch upon the following areas:
-       Animals hibernate in the winter because of the diminished amount of available energy sources; animals use less energy when they are hibernating.
-       Animals lower their metabolic rate while they are hibernating which gives them the appearance of being asleep
-       Prior to hibernation most animals eat a large store of food in order to store it as fat deposits, during hibernation, the fat is used for energy to keep the animal alive while preserving muscle tone
-       Many animals hibernate while they are gestating or pregnant
-       Animals hibernate in different places, they pick safe places away from predators
-       In true hibernation animals can appear dead with no movement, some animals do not go into true hibernation (bears for example ‘den’, bears go into a sleep state but their body temperature remains constant)

Extend:
The teacher will then explain the art assignment. Each student must choose a hibernating animal that can be found in Canada, the student will have to do some research on the animal and its hibernating habitat. The students will then choose an art medium, painting, drawing, sculpting or collage, to depict the animal within its hibernating habitat. Once they have completed the project they will write a short, 200 word, explanation of the animal and its habitat. 

Evaluate:
The students will be evaluated based on the accuracy of their depiction, whether the animal and habitat are portrayed clearly and their effort in using the media chosen (the final project will allow the teacher to see whether the student properly identified the animal and habitat and the depth of the research the student did on his/her animal). They will also be evaluated on their written reflection.