STORY LINKS: Balmy Birds

Small Mammals Game

In this activity, pupils explore how animal prepare themselves for winter and learn about insulation.

Age Group: 9-12 age

Duration: 30 minutes

Biomimicry Connection:

Animals have different strategies to keep themselves warm during the winter. In this game pupils learn to mimic how small mammals prepare themselves for winter.

Activity Details:

Tools and Materials

  • Round glass or plastic jar – 150-250 ml (5-8.4 oz) with lid, one per group (you can put a puppet animal onto the jar to help pupils to imagine that it is an animal)
  • water thermometer – one per group
  • thermos
  • hot water
  • data sheet

Preparations

  • Doing this activity outdoors in best in an area of natural habitat with shrubs and bushes
  • Heat the water (to approx. 50 centigrade) and pour into a thermos.

Description

  1. This activity is best done in autumn. Tell the pupils the following story:
    • “Autumn is here. The animals living in the forest are preparing for the winter. Small mammals (mice, voles) are looking for a place to spend the winter. Will it be possible to find a place with a suitable microclimate?”
  2. Divide pupils into teams of 3-4 people. Each team gets 1 jar filled with hot water (this will be their pet) and a thermometer (each team should get a separate thermometer). Measure the temperature of the water (in other words the mammals body temperature), then record the data of each team on the data sheet. Screw the lid on the jar.
  3. Tell teams that they need to find a place for their mammal to hibernate for the winter, a place where it can stay warm the longest. They have 5 minutes to do this. Suggest they take into account the following factors: temperature, wind, sunshine, thermal insulation, degree of protection against rain, etc. The goal is to look for a warm place, so that the mammals temperature drops as little as possible. Groups should find a place with a suitable microclimate without making any changes, or they can create one themselves using natural materials (e.g., creating a nest-like place). One group can be given wool as insulation: you can compare it with the others to see if the "fur" had a positive effect or not.
  4. After ten minutes, bring the jar (mammal) back and measure the temperature of the water again. Record the data in the table again. How much did it decrease? Which team’s water temperature was reduced the least and the most? What place did they choose? What criteria were used to select the location?
  5. What strategies or criteria did each team use to find the best place?
  6. What can we learn from the experience?

Extension

The activity can also be done in the school yard. In this case, pupils should not look for a hiding place, but wrap the jar symbolizing the small mammal. They can use, for example, cardboard, metal box, nylon, styrofoam, bubble wrap, fleece, wool, snack box, leaf litter etc.; brainstorm what else can be used. Measure the temperature of the water in the same way as above. Which was the best heat insulator? Which is the worst?