How Animals Survive in Winter: Migration and Hibernation Worksheet

Question 1

What does migration mean? Write one sentence and name one animal that migrates.

Accepted Answer

Migration means moving from one place to another when the seasons change. A goose is one animal that migrates to find warmer weather and food.

Question 2

What does hibernation mean? Write one sentence and name one animal that hibernates.

Accepted Answer

Hibernation means an animal goes into a deep sleep or resting state during winter. A bear, bat, or groundhog is an animal that hibernates.

Question 3

Circle the best answer: In winter, many birds migrate because they need more food, colder air, or deeper snow. Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

Many birds migrate because they need more food. In winter, insects, seeds, and other foods can be harder to find in cold places.

Question 4

A frog spends the winter buried in mud at the bottom of a pond. Is this more like migration or hibernation? Explain.

Accepted Answer

This is more like hibernation because the frog stays in one place and rests through the cold winter.

Question 5

Match each animal to its winter survival strategy: monarch butterfly, black bear, squirrel. Choices: migrates, hibernates, stores food.

Accepted Answer

A monarch butterfly migrates, a black bear hibernates, and a squirrel stores food for winter.

Question 6

Why might a rabbit grow thicker fur in winter?

Accepted Answer

A rabbit may grow thicker fur in winter to help keep its body warm in cold weather.

Question 7

Some animals store food before winter. Why is storing food helpful?

Accepted Answer

Storing food is helpful because food can be hard to find in winter. The animal can eat the stored food when snow or cold weather covers its usual food.

Question 8

A bird flies from a cold forest to a warmer place in the fall. What is the bird doing, and why?

Accepted Answer

The bird is migrating. It is moving to a warmer place where it can find food and survive the winter.

Question 9

A bat sleeps in a cave for much of the winter and uses very little energy. What is this called?

Accepted Answer

This is called hibernation. The bat rests in a safe place and uses less energy when food is hard to find.

Question 10

How are migration and hibernation different?

Accepted Answer

Migration means an animal moves to a new place for the season. Hibernation means an animal stays in one place and rests or sleeps through much of the winter.

Question 11

How are migration and hibernation alike?

Accepted Answer

Migration and hibernation are alike because both help animals survive winter when it is cold and food may be hard to find.

Question 12

Look at these clues: This animal eats a lot in fall, finds a den, and rests through winter. Is it likely migrating or hibernating? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The animal is likely hibernating because it eats a lot before winter, stays in a den, and rests instead of traveling to another place.

Question 13

A squirrel hides acorns in many places before winter. What problem is the squirrel getting ready for?

Accepted Answer

The squirrel is getting ready for a time when food is harder to find. The hidden acorns give it food to eat during winter.

Question 14

Choose one winter survival strategy: migration, hibernation, storing food, or growing thicker fur. Explain how it helps an animal.

Accepted Answer

One example is growing thicker fur. Thicker fur helps an animal stay warm when the air is cold and snow is on the ground.

Question 15

A student says, "All animals survive winter by hibernating." Is the student correct? Explain why or why not.

Accepted Answer

The student is not correct. Some animals hibernate, but other animals migrate, store food, grow thicker fur, or stay active in winter.

How Animals Survive in Winter: Migration and Hibernation

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