A squirrels unit study is a great way to learn about these amazing acrobats. Even though they are technically rodents, they are fun to watch during all four seasons.
There are many fun activities, printables, books, videos, and more to make creating a squirrel unit study very easy. If unit studies are new to you, check out my post on How to Create a Unit Study. In order to make planning even easier, I’ve created the Unit Study Planner and Printables – 21 Print-and-Go Pages that can be used with almost any unit study. I’ve priced it to make it very affordable for families. And because you can use it again and again, it is a great investment in your homeschooling. All of the single pages you see below are part of this pack.
Squirrel Unit Study Planning
As you read through the ideas in this post, you can start mapping out what you want to include for your family. The planner has spaces for: Goals, Books, Supplies, Spelling and Vocabulary, Field Trips and Activities, Videos and DVDs, Printables, Assessments, and Notes.
Squirrels KWL
I like starting a unit study off with a KWL. KWL stands for Know, Want to know, and Learned. Your learner lets you know what she already knows about the topic, what she wants to know, and (at the end) what she has learned. KWLs are a great way to document your child’s learning.
Introduction to Squirrels
This short video gives ten quick facts about squirrels.
Squirrels Vocabulary and Spelling
Here’s a list of words you can use for your squirrel unit study for either vocabulary or spelling.
- squirrel
- flying
- scurry
- drey
- seeds
- nuts
- bury
- rodent
- baffle
- tail
Squirrels Word Search
You can also use this list of words to create a word search!
Squirrels in the United States
Where do different kinds of squirrels live in the United States? Do a little bit of research online and use this map to show where different kinds of squirrels can be found. You can look for:
- Eastern Gray Squirrels
- Fox Squirrels
- California Ground Squirrels
- Northern Flying Squirrels
- Southern Flying Squirrels
Create a legend on your map to show where the different squirrels live. Do any overlap? Which ones live where you live? Which ones have you never seen?
If you learn about two different kinds of squirrels, you can compare them using a Venn diagram.
Squirrels for Creative Play
Stuffed animals can be such a wonderful toy for creative play. Here are four cute options! We own the first one and her name is Miss Suzy.
Grey Squirrel
Red SquirrelSquirrel PlushNuts the Squirrel
Chattering Squirrels
Squirrels make a number of different sounds. Don’t miss these chattering squirrels courtesy of the pumpkin cam (and the bonus creature who shows up!).
Easy Squirrel Crafts
If you need a quick and easy to prepare squirrel-themed craft, check out these fun options!
Foam Fall Squirrel Magnet Craft KitWooden Squirrel Feeder Boxes Craft (Pack of 2)
Endangered Red Squirrels in Great Britain
This is a great example of how invasive species can cause unintended consequences. This short video explains the situation in Great Britain with red squirrels (native) and gray squirrels (not native). This is an article (that parents will want to preview first) with a compelling graphic about the destruction just since 1945 – Vital volunteers needed to save our last red squirrels from Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
Saving Baby Squirrels
A short story of how a family rescued two baby squirrels.
Miss Suzy Picture Book
Did you notice one of the squirrels in the video above was named Suzy and the book Miss Suzy was in one of the photos? Miss Suzy is one of my very favorite books which I’ve written about before. There are also lots of fun activities to do with the Miss Suzy book. You can see an entire post about this with more squirrel ideas – Creative Learning Ideas for Miss Suzy.
Squirrel Protest Letter
Most people who feed birds put baffles like these on their feeder poles to keep the squirrels from eating all of the birdseed. Why do you think they call them baffles?
Audubon Torpedo Steel Squirrel BaffleAudubon Wrap Around Squirrel Baffle
Do you think the squirrels like this? What would a squirrel say if he or she wrote to the homeowner to protest the baffle and ask to have it removed? Write a letter from the squirrel to the keeper of the birdseed.
Favorite Squirrel Facts from Squirrels Unit Study
What are your five favorite squirrel facts you’ve learned during this squirrels unit study? Record them on this sheet in the unit study planner.
Books and More About Squirrels
To learn more about squirrels or enjoy some squirrel-themed fun, check out these resources.
Scarecrow Unit Study Activities
