Squirrels

nut, - Nuss tree, - baum to grip, - greifen branches, - Äste nest = drey - Nest pads = Kissen

Teeth and food: The squirrel lives in forests, gardens and parks. It is adapted to life in the trees. It has sharp claws to help it climb trees and its feet have pads which help it to grip. It has strong back legs which help it to jump on the ground or from tree to tree. When it "flies" from tree to tree its tail helps it to change direction. The squirrels eyes are good and can feel branches on the trees with its whiskers. Squirrels are active in the day. At night or when the weather is bad it sleeps in its nest or drey. The squirrel makes the nest with branches. It puts leaves, moss, grass and hair in the nest to make it warm. In winter the squirrel sleeps in its nest for days – it is dormant. Before the winter the squirrel buries nuts and acorns. When it wakes up in the winter, it tries to find its food again. The squirrel can have babies 3 times a year. It has 3 to 7 babies each time. The squirrel has babies in the nest. The babies are blind when they are born. They drink the mother's milk for eight weeks. The mother carries them to a second nest when she sees danger. When the baby squirrels play, they learn to fight and to move in trees. Squirrels are rodents (like beavers, rats and mice). They have long incisors which grow and grow. If the squirrels don't use their teeth, the incisors grow too long. Squirrels use their incisors to open nuts. They get better at it when they practise more. Squirrels eat nuts, acorns, berries, seeds, fungi, young birds and insects. They are omnivores.. Anatomy: Reproduction:Winter-time: Environment und Way of life:

Animals in winter What problems do animals in winter have?

Animals in winter What can animals do against: the problem with the cold? the problem with the food? the problem with predators? Talk about it in groups.

Animals in winter What can animals do against: - the problem with the cold? the problem with the food? the problem with predators? Talk about it in groups. - They eat more in autumn so they have more fat under the skin – keeps them warm. - They sleep in warm places, for example nests. - Grow more hair or fur to keep them warm. - They eat more in autumn so they have more fat under the skin – they use the fat as food. - Hide food in holes before winter, e.g. the squirrel. - They sleep for a short time (dormant), e.g. the squirrel. - They sleep all winter – they hibernate. E.g. bats, hedgehog, dormouse. - They can change the colour of their fur.

Dormancy and hibernation

In winter the bat hibernates. Its body temperature goes _________. Its heart beats more _____________, so it needs a lot less ____________ and a lot less ___________. Therefore it does not need to _____________ in the winter. In winter the squirrel is sometimes dormant. It sleeps sometimes but its body temperature does not _________ much. Its heart beat does not ___________ much either. It needs less __________ but it must wake up and eat. down slowly energyfood wake up change food

Project: Mammal Choose a mammal! (Any mammal except cows, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrel, polar bear, camel, whale, mole or bat.) Make a poster and describe: Describe - their habitat (Lebensraum), - what and how they eat - how they are adapted to their habitat and eating habits - their reproduction - are they endangered (gefährdet) To be finished by 5th February