Squirrel for a Day
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What Is This Video?
Want to be a Squirrel Boy like Brad? All it takes is a costume, a tail, a camera, and a strong pair of legs. Be warned—keeping up with a thirsty squirrel is WAY harder than it looks!
Conversation Starters
Ask:
Why does Brad insist on wearing the squirrel costume? (To blend in with the squirrels so that they “act natural.”)
What are some places the squirrel grabs a drink? (The crook of a tree, an upside-down bottle cap, a planter on a fire escape, and inside the leaves of a weed.)
What movements does the squirrel use to find water? (Running, leaping, and climbing.)
Where else could squirrels find water in your community? (Many cities and towns have fountains, ponds, hydrants, and hoses. Foods, especially fruits, also contain water.)
Explore Some More
Pigeon Kid!
Imagine you are a pigeon—or a sparrow, a starling, or another bird that lives in your area. What kind of costume would you need? How would you walk and act? What would you sound like? Where would you nest or hang out? How would you find drinking water? Would finding water be easier or harder for you than for a squirrel? Or for a human?
Ready? Go to a city square or park that has lots of pigeons or other birds. Pick a bird to observe, watch for a few moments, and then try to follow its actions for as long as you can. What behaviors or sounds can you add to your Pigeon Kid act? For example, do the birds take baths to keep their feathers fit for flying? Bonus: Watch Spy in the Wild, a nature series about wildlife cameras disguised as realistic-looking animals to record behavior in the wild.
Curriculum Topics
animals, water, ecosystems
Activity Type
indoor and outdoor
Standards