Woodland Wonders: Animals in Winter | Nonfiction Reading & Science | Grades 1–3

Bring winter science to life with Woodland Wonders: How Animals Prepare for Winter! This nonfiction reading pack combines real wildlife photographs, North America range maps, and meaningful comprehension practice for grades 1–3.

Students discover how six animals respond to winter—from gray squirrels storing nuts to wood frogs surviving freezing conditions. Two passage versions per animal help teachers support different readers while exploring the same science topics.

What’s included:

• 35 printable PDF pages

• Six animal topics, each with a full passage and a shorter “Read Together” version

• Real wildlife photographs and approximate North America range maps on both passage versions

• Six Reading Check pages with 24 comprehension questions

• Vocabulary practice and winter-strategy matching

• Cause-and-effect activities

• Compare-and-contrast writing

• A fact-check activity addressing common misconceptions

• Wildlife observation and field notes

• Teacher guidance, answer keys, science sources, and photo credits

Featured animals:

Gray squirrels, black bears, monarch butterflies, wood frogs, snowshoe hares, and beavers.

Skills students practice:

Identifying main ideas and key details, learning vocabulary in context, making inferences, finding text evidence, explaining cause and effect, and comparing information across texts.

Flexible ways to use this resource:

Use the passages for whole-group read-alouds, small-group instruction, partner reading, literacy centers, science lessons, homeschool learning, or substitute plans. Emerging readers can respond orally or dictate answers; more confident readers can write complete responses supported by passage details.

The shorter passages provide reading support rather than formally measured reading levels. Reading Check questions refer to the full passages.

Science + reading, together

Students explore food storage, hibernation, migration, camouflage, shelter, and freeze tolerance. The passages explain that winter habits vary by species and location, helping children develop an accurate understanding of animal survival.

Please note: This is a digital, non-editable PDF download. No physical product will be shipped. Designed for US Letter paper; print in color or grayscale. One purchase licenses use by one educator or one household.

Created by Live Oak Learning—resources for curious minds.