Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Winter Hibernation Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Winter Hibernation Cards is a free printable card set for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children sort animals into those that sleep through winter and those that stay awake. It is a hands on, screen free science activity that needs only paper, scissors and a pencil. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
This is a set of cards to cut out and use. The cards name animals children may know from gardens, woods and fields, including hedgehog, bat, dormouse, toad, robin, fox, deer and pigeon. Children look at each animal, talk about what they think happens to it in winter, and sort it into two groups: sleeping or awake. A grown up listens to their ideas and checks the choices on page 2.
- hedgehog
- bat
- dormouse
- toad
- robin
- fox
- deer
- pigeon
What is hibernation?
Hibernation is a long, deep sleep in the cold months. A hibernating animal does not just nap. Its body slows right down. Its heart beats more slowly and it breathes more slowly, so it uses very little energy. This helps it get through the part of the year when the weather is cold.
Winter is hard for wild animals because food can be difficult to find. Animals deal with this in different ways. Some sleep through the coldest weeks. Others stay awake and keep searching for food. Some travel to warmer places. Young children do not need all of this at once. Sorting animals into sleeping and awake is a good first step.
Fun facts about winter animals
- Hibernation is a deep sleep that is much slower than a normal night's sleep.
- A hibernating animal's heart and breathing slow down to save energy.
- Many animals eat extra food before winter so their bodies have energy stored.
- Animals that sleep through winter need a quiet, sheltered place to rest.
- Not every animal sleeps in winter. Many stay awake and keep looking for food.
Skills and curriculum link
- Sorting into two groups
- Naming animals
- Talking about seasons
- Giving a reason for a choice
- Listening and sharing ideas
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Understanding the World | The Natural World | Reception |
What children will be able to do
- I can name animals that sleep through winter.
- I can sort animals into sleeping and awake.
- I can say why some animals sleep in winter.
Ideas for talking about animals in winter
- Cold and foodWinter is colder and there is often less food. Ask your child how that might be hard for a small animal.
- Two ways to copeSome animals rest for a long time. Others stay active and keep searching. Sorting is about spotting which is which.
- Safe placesAnimals that rest through winter need somewhere quiet and sheltered. Ask where such a place might be.
- Different from bedtimeHibernation lasts much longer than a night's sleep, and the body works very slowly while it happens.
Key words
- HibernateTo sleep deeply for a long time during the cold months.
- WinterThe coldest season of the year.
- SortTo put things into groups that are alike.
- AwakeNot asleep. Moving about and active.
- ShelterA safe, covered place that keeps an animal protected.
- EnergyWhat the body uses to move, grow and stay alive.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Cut out the cards together. A grown up can do the cutting if little hands find it tricky.
- Explain that hibernation means a long deep sleep in the cold months. Say each animal name aloud and talk about it.
- Let your child sort the cards into sleeping and awake. Ask, "Why did you put it there?" Listen for the reasoning.
- Check against page 2 together. Come back another day, because repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with just four cards. Say each animal name aloud and look at it together. Ask what your child already knows about it. Sort those four first, then add more cards when they feel confident. Guessing is fine, and you can talk it through afterwards.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child where each animal might sleep. Is it a hole, a pile of leaves, a tree or somewhere else? Then ask them to draw a safe winter home for one animal and explain why it keeps the animal sheltered.
Make it a game
Play sleep or stand. Hold up a card. If your child thinks the animal sleeps through winter, they curl up small. If they think it stays awake, they stand tall. Check on page 2, then swap roles so they hold up the cards.
Talk about it
- Why do you think some animals sleep through the cold months?
- Which animals do you think stay awake in winter?
- Where might a sleeping animal find a safe place?
- What do you think animals eat when it is cold?
- How is hibernating different from going to bed at night?
- Which animal on the cards have you seen in real life?
Take it off the page
Winter den drawing
Draw or paint a cosy winter hiding place. Use leaves, twigs and soft grass in the picture. Talk about why it keeps an animal warm and safe.
Animal winter walk
Go outside on a cold day and look for signs of animals. Listen for birds. Look for leaves and logs where small creatures might shelter. Do not disturb anything you find.
Curl up and wake up
Curl up small on the floor and move very slowly, like an animal in a deep sleep. Then stretch, stand and move about like an animal that stays awake. Talk about how each feels.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Keep it relaxed. Listen to their ideas and ask why they chose each group. If they are unsure, say the animal name together and talk about where you might see it.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary or a table activity linked to the Understanding the World strand The Natural World. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups. Please check it against your own plans.
Home educators
Pair these cards with books about animals, a winter walk or time in the garden. The sheet is free to print again, so younger brothers and sisters can have a go, or you can revisit it a few weeks later to see what your child remembers.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before this sheet, children in Reception notice the world around them. They spot changes in the weather and the seasons and name animals they see outdoors. Talking about what animals do in winter builds on that curiosity.
After this, children can look at how animals live in different places and how the seasons change what they do. Sorting and giving reasons now helps them explain their thinking in later science lessons.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Why do you think some animals sleep through the cold months?
- Which animals stay awake in winter?
- Where might a hibernating animal find a safe place to sleep?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Winter Hibernation Cards for?
It is written for Reception children, ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. It works best when shared with a grown up who can talk about each animal and listen to the child's ideas.
- What will children practise?
They sort animals into those that sleep through winter and those that stay awake. Along the way they name animals, talk about the seasons and explain their choices, which supports early science thinking.
- Do I need to cut the cards out?
Yes. The sheet is a card set to cut out and use. A grown up can do the cutting, or children can help with safe scissors. Cutting them out lets children move the cards around as they sort.
- What if it feels too hard?
Start with just four cards and say the animal names aloud. Talk about each one before sorting. Add more cards once your child feels ready. Guessing is fine, because the talking matters as much as the sorting.
- Where are the answers?
They are on page 2, which is for the grown up. Page 2 also has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea. Keep it aside until your child has sorted the cards.
- Is it free and does it need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so you do not need colour ink.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary or table activity. Home educators can use it alone or with books and outdoor play. It needs only printing and cutting, and you can print it again for revision.
More like this
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.