Winter Wonderland

The Nature Friends program is for 4- or 5-year old children with an adult. The maximum group size is 20 child-adult teams. Programs are outside unless weather does not permit.

Story

“How the Turtle Flew South for the Winter” Keepers of the Earth, Joseph Bruchac and Michael J. Caduto, (page 157)

Discuss

Show a swimsuit. Is this what you wear in the winter? What do you wear in the winter? How do people get ready for winter? What do animals do in the fall to get ready for winter? Show pictures and animal furs.

Activity

Use puppets to show examples of how some of animals get ready for winter. Have a child pick one puppet/picture out of the box. Then discuss that animal.

Craft: Animal stick puppets

Materials needed: animal outlines (see Animal Shapes), craft sticks, scissors, tape, crayons or markers

1. Pass out a variety of animal shape sheets. Color the animals.
2. Have the adult/child team work together cutting out the shapes.
3. Tape the animal shape onto craft sticks.
4. Have a stick puppet show with each child telling what his/her animal does in the winter time.

Snack

Serve animal crackers and milk.