Animals in Winter Observation Activity

Animals In Winter Observation Activities & Books

Winter is a good time of year to observe birds and other animals with your class.  Explain that in areas where it gets cold and snows in the winter it is harder for animals to find food.  Tell students you are going to help the animals by placing feeders out for them.

Create simple bird feeders by rolling pine cones in peanut butter and then in bird seed.  Tie a piece of yarn to the top so it can hang from a tree branch.

pinecone and peanut butter bird feeder

You may also use stale pieces of bread.  Cut the bread into shapes using cookie cutters, spread with peanut butter, sprinkle with bird seed.

bread and peanut butter bird feeder

Milk cartons can also be used for bird feeders by cutting out squares on each side and placing bird seed in the bottom.

milk carton bird feeder

Take the students outdoors and hang their feeders in a tree.  If possible hang them in a tree that is visible from the classroom window so they can observe them.  If this is not possible go out several times a day to observe.

When there is freshly fallen snow in your area, place a plate or tin full of seed and/or food outdoors.  Check on it later in the day or the next day and observe the animal tracks that are around it in the snow. Identify the animal tracks to see what animals ate the food.

animal tracks in the snow

Suggested Book List


Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 1)


Animals in Winter (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science)


All About Animals in Winter (Celebrate Winter)


Animals in Winter (Bullfrog Books: What Happens in Winter?)


How and Why Animals Prepare for Winter (How and Why Series)


Animals in Winter (Rosen Real Readers: Early Emergent)


Animals in Winter (All About Winter)


First Snow in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy


Winter Friends

You may also like:

Teaching the Signs of the Winter Season

Snow Science Experiments

Snowflake Science, Snowflake Classroom Display

Hibernation Activities

3 comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.