Why is it so cold in the winter? The earth travels around the sun. It takes 365 days to do this. During the winter season, the earth is tilted away from the sun. That is why it is so cold! 2 Winter: Nature Asleep Winter is one of the four seasons. It is the coldest season of the year. In the winter, colder weather brings many changes. At this time of year, daylight hours are short. Winter: Nature Asleep 3Ice, sleet, hail, frost, and snow are all When it gets colder, we stay inside parts of winter weather. Snowflakes where it is warmer. When we go outside, form in clouds where the temperature is we wear heavier clothes. How do below freezing. Snowflakes all have six animals deal with the cold weather? sides. But no two snowflakes are alike. They do many different things. 4 Winter: Nature Asleep Winter: Nature Asleep 5Many other animals migrate, too. Some mammals, like bats and elk, travel in search of food each winter. Many fish migrate as well. They swim to where the water is warmer. Some butterflies and other insects fly south, too! 8 Winter: Nature Asleep Other animals change to survive the winter. Some grow thicker fur to stay warm. Some rabbits’ new fur is white. This helps them hide in the snow. Since food is hard to find, some animals store extra before winter comes. Winter: Nature Asleep 9Some animals, such as bears, hibernate, or go into a deep sleep for all of winter. This means they don't have to use a lot of energy. They eat extra food before winter and store it as fat. They use this fat to get through the winter without eating. 10 Winter: Nature Asleep Trees need to survive the winter, too. Like some animals, they also go into a deep sleep. Since there is less sunlight, they must save their energy. Their bark protects them from bad weather. Then, in spring, they too will wake up! @ Winter: Nature Asleep 11