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Squirrel Secrets

Squirrel Secrets
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This is a teacher-led and teacher-narrated lesson for more open-ended discussion.


Learn more about the Anchor Layer here,
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In this unit, we will learn about many different animals. Discuss. Which kinds of animals do you see here?
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We are going to start by learning about a special type of animal. One of them is hiding in this picture. Discuss. Can you find the animal in this picture?
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Here it is! Discuss. Do you know which kind of animal this is?
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The same kind of animal is hiding in this picture. Discuss. Can you find the animal in this picture?
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Here it is! Discuss. Do you know which kind of animal this is?
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The animals in those pictures were squirrels. This is a squirrel, too. Discuss. Have you ever seen a squirrel? If so, where did you see one? What did you see it do?
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Squirrels live in many different places. Some live where it is very cold. Others live where it is very hot. Discuss. Which of these places is cold? Which is hot? How do you know?
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Discuss. If you wanted to live in one of these places like squirrels do, what would you need to bring with you so you could live there?
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Some squirrels live in rainforests, where it is wet. It rains almost every day. Other squirrels live in deserts, where it is dry. It almost never rains.
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Discuss. If you wanted to live in one of these places like squirrels do, what would you need to bring with you so you could live there?
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You thought about what you would do if you wanted to live in these places. Squirrels have to do special things to live here, too. Let’s look at one thing that they do.
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No matter where squirrels live, they have to eat! This is one type of squirrel called a chipmunk. Watch how it eats a peanut. It takes the shell off. Then it eats the nut that was inside the shell.
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But sometimes squirrels don’t eat their food. Watch this squirrel. Then, discuss. What is this squirrel doing? Why do you think it is doing this, instead of eating?
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Sometimes, squirrels put food in their mouths and run away with it, instead of eating it right away. Squirrels do this with many different foods—not just peanuts.
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Step
01/05
Get a See-Think-Wonder Chart, or make your own with a large sheet of paper. Your teacher will add your ideas to the class chart.
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Step
02/05
What do you see these squirrels doing? Your teacher will record your answers in the See column.
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03/05
Why do you think the squirrels are doing this? Come up with as many ideas as you can. Your teacher will record your ideas in the Think column.
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04/05
What do you wonder about what these squirrels are doing? Your teacher will record your questions in the Wonder column.
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Step
05/05
Save your See-Think-Wonder Chart. You will add to it after the next lesson in this unit. We will see more about what squirrels do with their food.
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It's time to do some investigations! In this unit, you'll explore many different things about animals. This will help you figure out how squirrels can live in so many different places.

At the end of the unit, you will use everything you've learned in a fun project.

Have fun, and stay curious!

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Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Other
A Chipmunk's Cheeks are Filled with Peanuts by Fiona M. Donnelly
A ground squirrel is well camouflaged against the rocks. by CampSmoke
A mother golden-mantled ground squirrel and her baby photographed in Nevada by Sean R. Stubben
A squirrel with an acorn in its mouth on a stone by hubulu
Adult golden mantle squirrel by Judy Gallagher
Adult squirrel on branch by Joachim Dobler
All illustrations by Alex Kalomeris
Baby squirrel on branch by Joachim Dobler
Bird with berry in beak by Matt MacGillivray
Chipmunk Stuffing It's Face With Peanuts by Jakelange
Chipmunk eating peanut by Robert Bruce Anderson
Golden mantle squirrel baby by Rebekah Hyde
Harris Antelope Squirrel on old wood watching for predators in the Arizona desert by J Curtis
Plantain Squirrel (Callosciurus notatus) (15113225013) by Bernard DUPONT
Red Squirrel Female Adult Young Black Hills Carrying Spring by hdnaturefootage
Red Squirrel Female Adult Young Black Hills Newborn Baby Carry Spring by hdnaturefootage
Squirrel Burying Food by RDFilms
Squirrel Feeding After Deep Snowfall by Jon Bondy
Squirrel Rummaging Through The Forest by TheSceneLab
Squirrel Title Slide by likeaduck
Squirrel camouflaged in branches by Andrey Zharkikh
Squirrel camouflaged on a rock at the Grand Canyon by Amber Conner
Squirrel camouflaged on tree by Angela Layana
Squirrel climbing a tree with a walnut in its mouth by gerd-harder
Squirrel hidden in the tree trunk, camouflage colors by FCG
Squirrel in Snow by Smabs Sputzer
Squirrel running with nut by hedera.baltica
Squirrel with nut in mouth by Ian Sane
Two adult ground squirrels in the hot desert sand, surveying the surroundings near their burrow entrance in the sand by Terreblanche
Credits

Activity Prep

Print Prep

Note: This lesson is part of this unit’s Anchor Layer. If you have the Anchor Layer turned on, we recommend teaching all lessons in the remainder of this unit in order.

The anchor phenomenon for this unit is the amazing fact that squirrels are found living across a huge range of habitats around the world. Squirrels have special body structures and behaviors that help them accomplish this.

During the introduction, students generate observations and questions about the phenomenon and create a list of possible explanations for the phenomenon.

Students will gather clues during and after each lesson in this unit to help them improve their understanding and explanations. It is important to encourage students to recognize that even if they don't know the perfect answer yet, they are going to learn a lot throughout the unit and will have an opportunity to revisit the phenomenon over time.

Preview activity
Number of students:
Animal Superpowers Teacher Guide teacher-only resource 1 per class
Color a Squirrel printout
This is only needed after Lesson 3 in this unit. 		1 per student
See-Think-Wonder worksheet 2 per class
Prep Instructions

Before starting this lesson, review the unit Teacher Guide for an overview of the Animal Superpowers Anchor Layer.

Set Up Your Classroom

Set up your classroom by creating a class "See-Think-Wonder" chart. You will need one chart today, and a new one after the second lesson in the unit. You will review the charts after the fourth lesson in the unit.

For the See-Think-Wonder charts, we recommend using chart paper or a space on your board that won't be erased, but we have provided a blank chart in the supplies as well. We recommend that you create charts for the whole class, and record your student's thinking on it for them.

Prepare Worksheets

Print one copy of the Color a Squirrel worksheet for each student in your class. Students will complete this after the third lesson in this unit.

Prepare a Place to Keep the See-Think-Wonder Charts Safe

Students will revisit these charts over the course of the unit.

Extend this lesson