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Join us for easy and fun Going on a Bear Hunt Activities! This post contains a full hands-on unit study complete with companion books, activities, and ideas to pair with We’re Going on a Bear Hunt!
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Activities!
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is one of my all time favorite books to inspire creative play, movement and activity, and spark a child’s imagination.
We are incorporating this book into our around the world studies for kindergarten. However this unit is appropriate for young children from age two to about second grade. My toddler loves creeping through the tall wavy grass, and I have lovely memories of taking my 2nd graders on a bear hunt through the playground.
I hope your children enjoy the activities here as much as my children and students have!
Let’s Read! We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
This familiar tale lends itself to a variety of engaging learning activities. See below for gross motor practice, art, media resources and more!
Go on an Imaginary Bear Hunt
Take the spirit of this book outdoors and make your own bear hunt. Your bear hunt might be at a local park or in your own backyard.
Use the lyrical pattern of the story to describe what you see and hear in your surroundings. Walk to your destination, singing along the way. Then quickly run back, just like in the story. Don’t get caught by the bear!
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Sensory Bin Activity
Fine motor and sensory exploration, role playing, retelling and reenacting a story.
Create your own small-scale forest with your child!
- Practice fine motor skills when you rip or cut and crunch up paper for the wavy grass and pull apart cotton to make a snowstorm.
- Describe different textures as you and your child set the scene in the correct order.
- Retell what the family goes through first, second, and third
- Reenact the story with your own “finger people” or figurines.
A list of materials for an indoor sensory bin:
- wood chips for the forest floor
- shredded green paper for the tall wavy grass
- a foam or paper blue shape puddle
- large cotton balls for the snowstorm
- trees and woodland animals
Or create your own outdoor sensory bin with found materials.
Don’t be afraid to get dirty!
Going on a Bear Hunt? Make it an Animal Parade!
Gross Motor and Vocabulary Activity
You’ve been on the bear hunt, now it’s time to be the bear! Have your kids (and Dad, too!) form a line for an Animal Parade.
The book takes you through a bear’s natural habitat. What other animals might the family encounter as they travel through different parts of the forest? Brainstorm animals with your child. Then describe their movements. Move like the animal would across the room. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Long, Wavy Grass: slither like a snake, jump like a grasshopper
- Deep, Cold River: swim like a fish, float like an otter
- Thick, Oozy Mud: crawl like a salamander, slither like a snail
- Big, Dark Forest: prance like a deer, stand perfectly still and watch like an owl
- Swirly, Whirly Snowstorm: hop like a rabbit, pounce like a wolf
- Narrow, Gloomy Cave: swoop down like a bat, skitter like a mouse, creep like a spider
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Activity
Art, Fine Motor Practice, and Introduction to Maps
Create a map of the family’s adventure through the forest.
We used very simple materials for this one: construction paper, brown and white tempura paint, popsicle sticks, brown marker, safety scissors and glue.
Use a marker to make a trail of dashes through your forest. Cut out shapes in order and talk about the story with your child as you paste the images on your map one at a time.
One of our very first kindergarten activities and an all-time fridge favorite.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Companion Reading List with Activities
Math Literature:
Equal Smequal by by
For more ideas for math literature see this list of 101 Math Literature Read Alouds
Poetry:
Jamberry by Bruce Degan
A classic story about a boy, a bear and their love of berries!
Expand your love of berries with
- seasonal berry picking
- making your own jam
- a field trip to your local farmers market for your own taste-test jamboree!
Fiction Readers:
Little Bear by by
Non-Fiction:
Grizzly Bears by Gail Gibbons
Gail Gibbons has such a wonderful collection of non-fiction books for children. Her beautifully illustrated book, Grizzly Bears, shows grizzlies in their natural habitat, describes their life cycle, habits and features of these amazing animals.
Some ideas for this title:
- build a bear cave fort and hibernate
- write a list of interesting facts about bears
- have a bear meal for dinner – salmon!
All About Grizzley Bears Playlist
Learn all about grizzly bears with our Grizzly Bear YouTube Playlist.
Runtime approx 20 min. Stream below or click here to view on YouTube.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt on YouTube
Book Sing-Aloud with book illustrations: 5 min
Song with Movement Directions: 5 min
Animated Feature based on the book: 24 min
Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear
Stream seasons 1 & 2 here.
Be sure to check out the Little Bear series of books. My son and daughter both loved Little Bear’s adventures with his family and forest friends.
First read; then watch the show. You’ll have plenty to talk about!
- Compare and contrast the characters and their adventures
- Recognize events from the show that you remember from the books
- Continue the story by making up Little Bear adventures of your own!
Related posts from the Resource Room:
Ashley helps parents who want to homeschool find the resources they need to successfully teach their children. Ashley is a former teacher, current homeschooler, published author, and designer behind Circle Time with Miss Fox printables as well as the creator of this website, The Homeschool Resource Room.
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