Materials
Brown paper ovals, each with a bear paw print on it, about 10" (25 cm)Six slips of paper numbered 1 through 6 in a small box or paper bag
Tape
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Optional: picture of a house, a brown bear, a stream, mountains, a forest and a meadow
Instructions
1. Discuss a brown bear's habitat with the class and read We're Going on a Bear Hunt.
2. Tape the bear paw prints to the floor in a track, starting at "home" (a picture of a house could be taped next to the first paw print) and ending at the bear's cave (a picture of a brown bear could be taped next to the last paw print). Along the way, pictures of a stream, mountains, etc. can be taped next to various paw prints.
3. One child becomes the bear, while other children take turns drawing numbers from the box or bag. The "bear" can advance only as many paw prints as the number drawn. The whole class helps count the steps. By the time the last number is pulled, the "bear" should reach his home.More to doMore science: This activity can lead to a discussion of identifying various animal tracks. Good books for this discussion include Whose Footprints? by Molly Coxe and Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs by Jim Arnosky.
