I’m so excited I can bear-ly take it! For today’s theme is ... bears! These activities are based on Every Child Ready to Read, which helps our friends learn pre-reading skills. We'll cover Reading, Writing, Talking, Singing and Playing.

TALKING:

• What does a bear sound like? 
• What color are bears?  
• What do bears live in?  
• Are bears furry? Scaley?  
• How do bears walk?  

READING:

Read any book you have that mentions bears! If you don’t have one, request one such as Bear Snores On or Bear Is Awake: An Alphabet Story. We’ll also make a bear book at the end.

SINGING:

The Bear Went Over the Mountain is a great song that uses prepositions.  

The bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain to see what she could see,

And all that she could see, and all that she could see was the other side of the mountain, the other side of the mountain, the other side of the mountain was all that she could see! 

Continue with: the bear went across the river, the bear went though the forest, the bear went around the trees.  

Have toys act out what the bear is doing, and add your own verses! Where else will the bear go?

LEARNING:

Learn a little bit about bears on one of our online databases, Gale in Context: Elementary!

PLAYING:

Move like a bear! Crawl like a bear around the house and gather supplies for your long winter nap!  

Or, sing If You’re Happy And You Know It, only as a bear! 

If you’re a bear and you know it, show your claws.

If you’re a bear and you know it show your claws.

If you’re a bear and you know it, and you really want to show it,

If you’re a bear and you know it show your claws.  

Continue with: If you’re a bear and you know it, growl real loud; If you’re a bear and you know it, stomp your feet; If you’re a bear and you know it do all three!

WRITING:

Make your own bear book:

• Staple papers together and have each page represent a different emotion.  
• Write (or have your child write) how the bear feels. (Bear is happy. Bear is sad.)  
• Illustrate! Draw or cut out pictures for each page.