NH Tree Squirrel

Fourth Grade Students have been working hard on research projects.  Some students wrote biographies and others wrote squirrel reports.  Read the examples below.


Andrew Moore Thompson Biography

Written BY: Oliver Thompson

Have you ever heard of the Appalachian Trail? Well this is a story of someone who hiked it. Andrew Moore Thompson was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on December 29th, 1975, and grew up with his brother and sister; Tyler and Kate. Some of Andrew's childhood hobbies were fishing, building tree forts, going on long walks, bike rides, swimming and many other outdoor activities. 

When Andrew was a teenager he moved to Massachusetts with his brother, sister and mom leaving his father behind. Andrew hoped to live a life full of adventure and happiness. In high school Andrew learned to be a carpenter so he could make money. He was also a chef. In college he chose to go to medical school and become a Respiratory therapist.

Later on in Andrew's life he would meet Bethany Charron, and soon they would marry each other. Andrew loved the outdoors; he would run marathons, hike trails and many more thrilling adventures. But one year he thought of something he had never done anything close to. Andrew was going to hike the 2300 mile Appalachian trail from Georgia to Maine.

But Andrew wasn't just going to hike it, he was going to set the world record for the fastest time to get to the finish line. And so that's what he did. In fact, he didn’t just hike it one time, he eventually hiked it three times earning the world record on his final trek. It was broadcast on local television channels and everyone thought Andrew was glorious.

 But in 2012, his whole life would change. He had a baby, that he and his wife named Ollie. Ollie was joyful and funny. But two years later he had another baby. And Andrew named him jack.  Jack was playful and loving just like Ollie. 

Now Andrew is a carpenter who works for himself and hopes to live a happy life raising his two beautiful boys.  The story of the Appalachian Trail record will live on with his children and family. 


Squirrel Report: 

By: Isla Cameron

     Rustle, rustle. Swish. What was that? It looks like a field mouse. Yes, it's a field mouse. No, it's a squirrel. Look. It's nibbling on a nut. How do you think it would feel to be one? 

     There are more than 250 different species of squirrels around the globe. Around here the most common squirrel species are gray squirrel, red squirrel, and flying squirrel. These amazing creatures have an astonishing amount of predators. They have predators everywhere they go. Squirrels can never be safe anywhere. A squirrel's predators range from animals that fly such as, hawks, eagles, and more, to animals that live in the water, such as river otters, mink, and more. Even humans are predators to squirrels. Some people shoot them to eat or just for fun. Squirrels also get hit by cars when people aren’t watching the road. It happens extremely often.

     Squirrels have huge diets. Squirrels will drink milk from their mothers when they are babies.They are omnivores even though you might think they are herbivores. You might have thought they only eat nuts, seeds, grains, fungi, and other plants, but surprisingly they will also eat baby birds, on rare occasions. 

     Squirrels are super speedy creatures. They have long skinny bodies and large bright eyes. You may have not known this, but they are rodents. Squirrels' usual colors are reddish brown, and gray, but they can be white or black. They have long front teeth that never stop growing, perked up ears, long and an extremely bushy tail. A squirrel's eyes are placed on the sides of their head so they can see both ways to benefit their hunting and protection.

    

Squirrels are fast runners and far jumpers. There are four different kinds of ways that animals move. They are walkers (or trotters), waddlers, hoppers, and bounders. These woodland creatures happen to be hoppers. Their hands and feet resemble those of humans. Their prints look like little human hands. 

See in the image below:     

     

Eventually when they are old enough they will have to go out into the world and fend for themselves. Surprisingly, these woodland creatures are one inch when they are born and can grow to be one foot.  Clearly squirrels are amazing little woodland creatures that are hunted wherever they go.

Sources Found on Epic For Kids:

“What is a rodent?” By Bobbie Kalman  ``Squirrels' ' By Leo Statts                       

“ Life cycle Squirrels” By Juile K. Lundgren