We’re sharing another entry in our homeschool unit studies series today: a free hibernation unit study!

Since winter time is fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to look at hibernation – how it works, what it is, and which animals do it every year. Plus, it’s a great excuse for talking about sleep, which I desperately need more of these days. (I’m sure I’m not alone there.)

Even if your kids are always on the move and rarely want to sleep (like mine), learning about hibernation is just plain fun! It’s really amazing to learn about mammals that sleep most of the winter season and what they do to prepare for that time of year. And that’s what this hibernation unit is designed to help kids do!

If you enjoy this unit, don’t miss our bears unit study and our list of children’s books about owls!

Hibernation Unit Study

When we put together a unit study, we typically include books, crafts, printables, and more. While I don’t always use every resource, I like to have as many as I can. That way, we can always stretch a topic out if the kids are super interested.

In this hibernation unit, you’ll find books about hibernation, hibernation notebooking pages, crafts and activities for learning about hibernation, and a super cool hibernation facts video that really explains this process in kid-friendly terms.

Hibernation Notebooking Pages

These free hibernation notebooking pages are great for keeping up with the facts kids learn about hibernating animals.

Students can even use them to write down some of the answers to the questions about hibernation they learn during the hibernation unit!

What is Hibernation?

1. What is hibernation? (Answer: The long sleep that some animals take during winter.)
2. Why do animals hibernate? (Answer: Because the weather gets cold and food becomes hard to find.)
3. How do animals prepare for hibernation? (Answer: As winter gets closer, they eat a lot of food to store fat that will keep them alive during winter.)
4. Why do some animals store food before winter? (Answer: These animals wake up from their hibernation to eat a little.)
5. Name a few animals that hibernate. (Answer: Bats, snakes, bears, hedgehogs, ground squirrels, groundhogs, and marmots)
6. Where do animals hibernate? (Answer: Wherever they feel safe from predators. Some hibernate in caves and some hibernate under the ground.)
7. What is the difference between sleep and hibernation? (Answer: During hibernation, the animal’s body temperature drops and its heart rate slows down. These things don’t happen during regular sleep.)
8. What is it called when animals hibernate during summer? (Answer: Aestivation)

Hibernation Books for Kids:

Share a cozy storytime session with these kids’ books about hibernation! (Affiliate links provided here. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

1. Don’t Wake Mr. Bear! by Jill Newton
2. Scholastic Reader Level 2: Hibernation by Tori Kosara
3. Hibernation Station by Michelle Meadows
4. Hibernation (Patterns in Nature Series) by Margaret Hall
5. What is Hibernation? (Science of Living Things) by John Crossingham
6. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
7. Sleepover with Beatrice and Bear by Monica Carnesi
8. National Geographic Kids: Sleep, Bear! by Shelby Alinsky
9. When It Starts to Snow (An Owlet Book) by Phillis Gershator
10. Baxter’s Hibernation by Michelle M. Birkenstock

Did you enjoy this hibernation unit study? Check these posts out also!

Plus, get more ideas for homeschool units on my Unit Studies Pinterest board!

Want even more ways to make unit studies fun? Sign up for our email newsletter to get plenty of great homeschooling tips and resources in your inbox!