With the end of fall and the beginning of winter, the bear preschool activities are a great theme to teach. Children view bears the same as dinosaurs they are big in nature and the desire to see one might override their safety.
True Bear Story
A true story about real bears. The school I teach at is very close to some bear dens and we have had some code bears for all the children to be safe inside. There was a time when I saw a bear walking along our playground fence and went straight into momma bear mode. Most children learn to stay inside and go to the door for safety however; there are always one or two children that they think seeing the bear is more important. These are the moments we as teachers don’t want to be in but we are prepared for the moment. That day I had to pick up a student and bring them to safety. We don’t know if they will climb a fence or just walk away. We were lucky that day and my voice scared the bear in the right manner to turn around and walk back into the wooded area.
Bear Hunt
The number one bear preschool activity is going on a bear hunt; there’s the book and the song. On those cold winter days when treading outside is not on the day’s agenda, the bear hunt activity can help get energy out and have a lot of fun. The bear theme can also help when teaching about hibernation and the many animals that use hibernation to survive the cold. There seems to be a mystery with children about bears much like dinosaurs; maybe because they are big or perhaps it’s their danger level that makes them so intriguing. Whatever the reason is for your bear theme I will help show you many bear preschool activities that you can incorporate into your lessons.
Teaching Bears
Bringing in a teddy bear when teaching bears in your classroom can help kids in many ways. The class can share their teddy bears during a community meeting time. The teddy bear can symbolize a child’s first relationship outside of their family. By having a teddy bear nearby, might boost one’s confidence and comfort in various environments. When a child plays with their teddy bear it can help boost their imagination and social skills. So get your blankets, and your teddy bears, and let’s learn by teaching bears. We can continue to work on key developmental skills while we have our own comforting teddy bear side by side.
Preschool Bear Theme
There are many preschool bear-theme activities that you can implement into your bear theme. The feed the bear activity can help promote fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This activity is always a favorite and fun to enjoy seeing the children’s faces when they are participating in the feed the bear activity.
Lacing Cards
The bear lacing cards can also be used to boost hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Lacing cards are also a huge cognitive skill and can require extra hand-over-hand to achieve this complex skill. The children are learning to hold one object in one hand and the lacing string in the other; all while moving the lacing string through the holes.
Bear Color Sort
The bear color sort activity can also be used with toddlers. This activity will help solidify colors and matching skills. For the toddler class, the teacher can label all the colored bears to help introduce and reinforce the colors that they see.
How many bears can go into the den?
The number of bears are in the den activity is two-fold. The child can place the bears in the den and then count the number of bears. The counting of each bear helps teach one-to-one correspondence skills and number concepts.
Build a Teddy Bear
The Build a teddy bear activity also has a wheel. The children can build their teddy bear with the wheel or not. There are various accessories to dress and decorate the teddy bear. This activity can be performed in pairs or individually.
Creative Arts
Giving children time and materials for their creative expression in the class helps teach communication, fine motor, and problem-solving skills. When you incorporate process art they learn that the process is what matters not the end result. When we teach kids that they can perform an activity to learn and not be right or wrong we are allowing them to be creative and be in a safe environment to make mistakes and not feel ashamed. There are many art projects within the bear theme that can allow for process and art to be in partnership. There is making a tissue paper winter background and paint splat bear to help give the child control of their finished product. Some other media that can be used for art are forks and bubble wrap to help give children excitement with the sensory activity.
Hibernating Animals
In the colder weather months, there are many hibernating animals. Bears might just be the most famous hibernating animal that children learn about. When teaching bears it is important to talk about their hibernation; this can also lead to other animals who hibernate for survival in colder weather. Some other animals that hibernate are frogs, snails, turtles, and bats. The bear packet includes a book and a file folder activity for those animals who hibernate and survive colder temperatures.
Bear theme books
Utilizing bear theme books to help showcase the theme in your classroom has many benefits. The first benefit is language development. When we use literacy to help teach about new themes and ideas we are using vocabulary in context to gain meaning. The second benefit is listening skills. Children learn to listen to the story being read and work on attention skills while hearing the story. The third benefit is an enhanced use of imagination and creativity. Children learn many valuable skills through a person reading a story. Here are some suggested bear theme books you can use to enhance these skills in your children.
By Helen Oxenbury
Going on a bear hunt: This book can be read or used as a great movement and dramatic play activity. If you don’t want to read and go on a bear hunt you can play the song and follow along.
By Karma Wilson
Bear says thanks: This book is always a fun way to learn sign language with the word thanks. I also like to read this book close to Thanksgiving.
Bear has a new friend: This book can be used in the early fall when there is a new set of children to learn how to have a new friend. Learning through books can be more powerful than telling a child who to play with.
Bear wants more: This book can help teach the ASL sign for more.
Bear sees colors: If learning colors is a need or just for fun learning colors through bears will be fun. Adding an I Spy color theme with your students can help promote learning colors with your students.
Bear counts: Learning to count is a long process and bear can help us learn to count and build one-to-one correspondence.
By Eric Carle
Polar bear polar bear: Most children love this book and hearing the different sounds can be an added benefit. I also use this book with the five senses and the hearing sense.
Brown bear, brown bear: Most children might just have this book be the first that they memorize along with their parents. This can also help teach colors and a pattern.
By Caroline B. Cooney
Bear Hug: This book talks about various animals and the hugs that they can give.
Adapted By Mara Alperin
Goldilocks and The Three Bears: This book follows a pattern that children will pick up on fast. They also love it when Goldilocks runs scared out of the house.
By Jacqueline McQuade
At Preschool With Teddy Bear: This book is all about the first day of school for a teddy bear. This book can also be used at the beginning of the school year to ease a child’s stress about school and with a bear theme.
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Additional Bear Theme Resources
Toddler bear
https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=toddler%20bear&rs=typed
Bear theme Preschool Activities
Toddler Approved
Bear Activities
Bear Songs
