I have a free Arctic Ground Squirrel lapbook and unit study today. We decided to add to our Arctic and Inuit Unit Study by doing an Arctic ground squirrel lapbook.
Nature study in the winter can be fun and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Because studying any kind of squirrel can be fun during the fall and winter, we focused on the adorable Arctic Ground Squirrel.
The Arctic Ground Squirrel lives in the Arctic.
The people of Alaska call it a parka squirrel.
It is beige with tan colored spots.
In the summer, its coat is thin and cool. In the winter, it grows thicker to keep the squirrel warm.
And the ground squirrel lives in the area called the Tundra.
Furthermore, the diurnal Arctic ground squirrel lives on the tundra and is prey to the Arctic fox, the red fox, the wolverine, Canada lynx, Eurasian lynx, the brown bear, and eagle
The first time they lose their fur, it starts from the bottom first, up to the head. The molting line is clearer.
The second time they molt, it starts at their head. The line is not visible, but it looks more grey.
The arctic ground squirrel is on average 15 inches long and how much it weighs depends on which coat it is wearing.
Additionally, Arctic ground squirrels live in colonies of hundreds of squirrels.
First, grab these resources that I know you’ll love and to help you with a Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook and Unit Study.
Arctic Ground Squirrel, About the Tundra, & Resources
- Background information. This one will help you to fill out the lapbook.
- Arctic Ground Squirrel background information.
- Resilience of the brain of the Arctic Ground Squirrel.
- Natureworks.
- Skulls of Alaskan Mammals. 71 page pdf guide with great facts for not just squirrels but other mammals.
- Furs of Alaska Mammals. 74 page pdf guide
- Alaska Tundra Wildlife. This is a HUGE 251 page download with pictures, cards, and background information to talk about the tundra.
Trees cannot grow on the Tundra because the ground freezes so much.
Where they live is bare and rocky with only a few plants that grow, such as moss and grass.
The tundra is cold, windy, and empty.
Winter is from September to May and there is no sun in midwinter.
Summer is a busy time. Summer is short, but the days are long. The soil thaws, plants grow, and the animals are active.
Animals that live on the tundra must be able to adapt to very cold temperatures.
They must also be able to raise their young during the very short summer months.
More Squirrel Activities
Squirrel Resources
- Coloring page for an older child.
- Craft – make a squirrel from leaves (cute)
- Squirrel lapbook for younger kids
- Craft- Squirrel Paperplate
- Squirrel Poem
- Origami Squirrel (too cute)
- Squirrel Dot to Dot
- Learning Contractions – Match squirrel word cards with the acorn contraction
- The Busy Little Squirrel Unit Study
Books About Squirrels
Next, add some of these fun books about squirrels to this unit study.
16 Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading About Squirrels
If your child loves reading about all kinds of squirrels, they’ll love reading these books and add some of these fun resources to your unit study.
The Arctic ground squirrel looks small, harmless and innocent. But this little creature survives some of the most challenging weather conditions that occur on the entire planet. It lives in the Arctic, which is literally on top of the world. In the winter it gets so cold that humans couldn't survive in the open!
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin is an original classic by Beatrix Potter. Beatrix Potter's famous tale of a naughty squirrel who loses his tail is as popular today as it was when it was first published over 100 years ago. Join Nutkin, his brother Twinkleberry and all his cousins as they make their way over to Owl Island to gather nuts. See what happens when Old Brown, the terrifying owl guardian of the island decides he has had enough of silly Nutkin's cheekiness! Ouch!! Beatrix Potter is regarded as one of the world's best-loved children's authors of all time. From her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, published by Frederick Warne in 1902, she went on to create a series of stories based around animal characters including Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-duck, Mr. Jeremy Fisher and Tom Kitten. Her humorous, lively tales and beautiful illustrations have become a natural part of childhood. With revenue from the sales of her books, Beatrix Potter bought a farm - Hill Top - in the English Lake District, where she later became a farmer and prize-winning sheep breeder. She launched the now vast merchandise programme by patenting the very first Peter Rabbit doll in 1903.
A young squirrel experiences the wonders of forest life and befriends a human toddler in this collectible edition of a classic animal story from the author of Bambi.Perri is a young squirrel living in Bambi’s forest. She grows up, learning about survival, friendship, and love as she observes and interacts with the complicated world around her. Most exciting of all, she meets a three-year-old human girl who can understand and talk to animals!
Gray squirrels leap from high heights to move from tree to tree. Discover these delightful rodents' life cycle and lifestyle in the woods.
Fun Toys include 8pcs miniature squirrel figurines in different style. With bright color and cute designs. You’ll certainly be impressed by the amazing level of details of these squirrel character figurines
Welcome to a new adventure in the Neck, a beautiful place where animals and humans live together in harmony--most of the time. In this book, a young boy named Eli builds a log fort with his dad, but it's not long before mischievous squirrels Chatter, Whistle, and Squeak move in and take over. As the nuts, acorns, and pinecones pile up inside, Eli realizes he's going to have to get creative to get them out. Will his plan work, or will the squirrels win?
Author and editor of numerous children's books, Thornton W. Burgess was also a noted conservationist. In writing for youngsters he combined a gift for storytelling with his love of the outdoors, creating an entertaining menagerie of animals whose adventures he skillfully recounted in a series of charming fables. In them, he taught young readers about nature and encouraged them to love the "lesser folk in fur and feathers."In this delightfully told tale, Burgess chronicles the escapades of Chatterer the Red Squirrel, who's known throughout the Green Forest as a mischief maker. Narrowly escaping the clutches of Shadow the Weasel and Redtail the Hawk, the bushy-tailed little fellow decides to leave the forest for a new home, only to learn that curiosity, carelessness, and mistrust can lead to a heap of troubles.
It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry — and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart.
How far would you go for a friend? In Nuts to You, the funny and moving illustrated novel by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins, two squirrels go very far indeed to save a friend who has been snatched up by a hawk. Nuts to You “begs to be read aloud . . . another completely original and exceptional package from Perkins,” said the Horn Book. Nuts to You features black-and-white art by the author on every page, as well as exclusive material original to this edition.
Jed, TsTs, and Chai are the very best of friends. So when Jed is snatched up by a hawk and carried away to another realm, TsTs and Chai resolve to go after him. Mysteriously, the hawk has dropped him. They saw it. Jed could be alive. New communities are discovered, new friends are made, huge danger is encountered (both man-made and of the fox and bobcat variety) and the mysteries of squirrel culture are revealed. Nuts to You is wholly original, funny, lively, and thought-provoking. Publishers Weekly said, “Readers . . . will relish the squirrels’ adventures, as well as Perkins’s laugh-aloud illustrations and equally witty footnotes.”
Portrays the physical characteristics, behavior, life cycle, and natural habitat of the small mammals.
Miss Suzy is a little gray squirrel who lives happily in her oak-tree home until she is chased away by some mean red squirrels. Poor Miss Suzy is very sad. But soon she finds a beautiful dollhouse and meets a band of brave toy soldiers.
How Miss Suzy and the soldiers help each other makes a gentle, old-fashioned tale that has captured the imaginations of girls and boys alike for more than fifty years. Arnold Lobel’s enchanting pictures are sure to make the kind squirrel and the gallant soldiers the everlasting friends of all who turn these pages.
Here, in a comprehensive and extremely readable volume, the author-artist whose many nature books are favorites with children gives an absorbing account of little animals equipped with chisel-like teeth for gnawing including their habits, appearance, and activities. The world of this army of small mammals is one which most of us could observe for ourselves if we wished to. No one reading these lively chapters about the squirrels, beavers, rabbits, prairie dogs, etc., could ever again take them and their interesting ways for granted.
Children will enjoy this exciting story as Gray Squirrel darts and dashes away from predators while trying to gather up a tasty meal of bird seed and acorns. Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Gray Squirrel at Pacific Avenue is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations. Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard!
Silky plush and soft huggable bodies
Text and illustrations describe the physical characteristics, habits, and natural environment of the red squirrel.
See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.
Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.
Also, add more resources to go with this lapbook.
More Ideas to Add to An Arctic Ground Squirrel Study
- How to Make an Easy 3D Tundra Biome Poster Project
- Arctic and Inuit Unit Study. Free Lapbook – Hands-on Ideas
- How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts
- nuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
How to Download the Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook
Now, how to grab the free printable. It’s a subscriber freebie.
When you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie.
1) Sign up on my email list to follow me and get this freebie and many others.
2) Grab the printable.
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If you’re looking to do any spring nature studies, you’ll want to get a few of the NaturExplorers. I love those studies for multiple ages.
It’s a monthly book club devoted to connecting children to nature.
The Nature Book Club theme for February: Winter Birds and Nests
The Nature Book Club is brought to you by these 10 nature loving bloggers which are your co-hosts! Are you following them? If you don’t want to miss anything, be sure to follow each one.
Here are the co-hosts, their choices of books, and activities for the month.
Rule This Roost
Build, Beaver, Build! Life at the Longest Beaver Dam – Beaver Habitat Building
Hide The Chocolate
Stellaluna – Bat Online Book Club
Eva Varga
Our Foray into Squirrel Taxidermy – Taxidermy
Everyday Graces Homeschool
Frederick by Leo Leonni – Watercolor bookmarks and nature notebook page.