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Hello Sheila-
This may be too much for 4th grade, but tardigrades (water bears) do a type of hibernation where they basically dehydrate themselves, surviving in this condition for decades.
There is some information about them here: http://io9.com/5023871/meet-the-tardigrades-the-solar-systems-most-extreme-survivors
And more resources here:http://serc.carleton.edu/marsforearthlings/examples/tardigrades_extremophiles.html
I was hoping to be able to find a source for inactive (hibernating) water bears, but everyone sells them as a living culture (Wards, Carolina, etc.). I also spent a little time looking online for information on how to force them into hibernation, without much luck. Just lots of references to drying them out in a cold setting.
Good luck with your project!
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