20+ Hibernation Activities for Preschoolers

Did you know that millions of animals hibernate every winter? During this time of hibernation, animals stay inactive to conserve their energy when food is in short supply. This unique feature keeps them safe all through the cold months until food is readily available again. These hibernation activities for preschoolers are the perfect way to combine learning with creativity.

Here’s a list of just some of the animals that hibernate:

• Bears
• Frogs
• Turtles
• Groundhogs
• Hedgehogs
• Bats
• Snails
• Snakes
• Skunks
• Bumblebees
• Hamsters
• Butterflies (and some other insects)

Learn more about hibernation and which animals hibernate in this article from Discover Wildlife.

Save these hibernation activities for later. Pin them to your favorite Pinterest board…

Here are some crafts inspired by these fascinating animals that hibernate. They will keep you busy any time of year, especially through the winter season.

Paper Plate Bear

Did you know that brown bears hibernate for up to 8 months every year? Brown bears hibernate anywhere between 5 and 8 months out of the year depending on their location, the weather, and food availability.

Want to learn how to make this adorable bear craft? Check out the instructions HERE.

Paper Bag Bear

If you liked the last craft, you’ll love this Paper Bag Bear Craft! With just a few supplies that can be found just about anywhere (you might even have them lying around your home), you too can make this cute bear. Learn more HERE.

Paper Hedgehog

Unlike most other species, not all hedgehogs choose to hibernate. Their choice to hibernate is on a hedgehog-to-hedgehog basis rather than being based on the entire species or location. Learn how to make these adorable creatures HERE.

Paper Bag Bat

Did you know that bats hibernate? I didn’t! During this time, a bat’s heartrate drops from up to 300 beats per minutes to a measly 10. Learn how to make this paper bag bat craft HERE.

Paper Bat Craft

Bats usually choose for caves or mines to rest through the Winter and Spring months. Millions of bats can hibernate together at a time (talk about being cramped!). Click HERE to make the paper craft inspired by this awesome creature.

Paper Plate Bat Craft

This interactive bat craft is perfect for kids of all ages. Just pull the string and watch it fly! You can learn how to make your very own flying bat HERE.

Sleeping Skunk Craft

There are not many things sweeter than this sleeping skunk craft. It starts with a paper plate and some paint. Use the free printable template to create your skunk craft with ease. Check out the full craft tutorial HERE.

Painted Skunk Craft (with Newspaper Stripes)

This simple skunk craft goes together quickly, and the newspaper stripes add an extra special touch. We added a bow to the skunk’s hair, but you can customize your skunk artwork however you like. Find the full craft tutorial HERE.

Newspaper Chipmunk

A common misconception about hibernation is that the animal is in a deep sleep, but this isn’t always the case. During the winter, chipmunks come in and out of hibernation. Every few days they will go out and retrieve the food they’ve buried before returning back to their burrow and entering a state of hibernation once more.

Want to learn how to make this cute chipmunk? You can read the full instructions HERE.

Paper Plate Turtle

A turtle’s hibernation can look very different from another depending on the species but generally turtles bury themselves in the mud of their pond or lake during cold months. This preserves their energy and keeps their body temperature from getting too low.

Want to learn how to make this fun turtle craft? Click HERE.

Watch the full Turtle Craft Tutorial Video here…

Recycled Newspaper Turtle

The best part of this craft is that it is made out of recycled newspaper! You can help keep our oceans (and earth) clean by finding ways to give things like newspaper a second life. You can find the full set of instructions HERE.

Recycled Newspaper Turtle (with washi tape!)

If you liked the last craft then you’ll love this one! Not only does it use recycled newspaper as well but its washi tape gives it a beautiful geometric design. Check it out HERE.

Popsicle Stick Turtle

This simple triangle craft is the perfect addition for your classroom’s hibernation unit. You can find the full set of instructions HERE.

Groundhog Craft

One of the most infamous creatures of winter has to be Groundhogs! As a Pennsylvania native, we rely on Punxsutawney Phil to tell us if winter will end early. Will he see his shadow or won’t he this year? This activity is perfect for toddlers on up. Grab the free printable handprint activity HERE!

Paper Bumble Bee Craft

Bees are so important to our survival in this world. Making this bumble bee craft is perfect for opening a discussion about how they impact our environment and what we can do to help them thrive. Learn how to make this bee craft HERE.

Painted Bee Craft

Tap painting with a pompom is fun and simple. Once the paint dries, you’ll just add some torn newspaper stripes to bring this bee artwork to life. Check out the full set of instructions HERE.

Paper Plate Frog Craft

Lots of species of frogs hibernate when the temperatures drop. Making this adorable paper plate frog would be the perfect addition to any hibernating animals unit. Check out the full set of craft instructions HERE.

Squish Painted Butterfly Craft

Lots of insects hibernate during the cold months, including butterflies! They weather the climate in the pupa stage, within a chrysalis in a sheltered spot, and development stops temporarily until the temperatures become more mild. Get the full tutorial for this butterfly craft HERE.

Squeegy Painted Butterfly

When butterflies hibernate, they have a sort of antifreeze chemical in their blood that allows them to survive the cold temperatures. They really are amazing insects. Grab the free template and learn how to make this fun and simple butterfly craft HERE.

Painted Ladybug Craft

When the Spring hits, sweet little ladybugs can be seen all over as they come out of their hibernation state. Learn how to make this fun and simple ladybug craft, with newspaper spots HERE.

Popsicle Stick Ladybug Craft

Start with a popsicle stick triangle to create this fun and simple ladybug craft with your kids. Check out the full tutorial HERE.

Snail Craft for Kids

Like some of the other insects that we’ve talked about here, snails are known to hibernate during the cold months. It’s so cool how they do it too. They use their shell as a built in home and simply withdraw into the shell and “close the door” with a sort of lid. To get the full tutorial for this fun and simple snail craft, go HERE.

Stuffed Newspaper Snail Craft

To create this adorable snail craft, we stuffed a newspaper shell and painted on the swirls. Then just grab the free printable template to finish off the rest. You can find the full craft tutorial HERE.

Save these Hibernating Animal Crafts for later. Pin them to your favorite Pinterest board…