Bears: Forest Friends! Script

Warm-Up: Bear Brainstorm (5 minutes)

"Good morning, everyone! Today, we are going on an adventure to learn about some incredible animals. Can anyone guess what animal we'll be talking about? Hint: They are big, furry, and love honey!"

"That's right, bears! When you hear the word 'bear,' what comes to mind? Shout out your ideas, and I'll write them down on the board!"

(Listen to student responses and write keywords on the board. Encourage a variety of ideas.)

"Wow, great ideas! Bears are certainly all of those things and more. Let's dive deeper into their amazing world."

Introduction to Bears (10 minutes)

"Now, let's look at our Bears: Forest Friends! Slide Deck to learn about different types of bears around the world. Did you know there are 8 different kinds of bears?"

(Advance to Slide 2: Meet the Bears!)

"They live in many different places, from very cold, icy lands to warm, thick forests."

(Advance to Slide 3: Brown Bear (Grizzly Bear))

"First up, the Brown Bear, also known as a Grizzly Bear! These bears are super big and strong. Where do you think they live?"

"They live in places like North America, Europe, and Asia. What do you notice about their fur?"

"They usually have brown fur, and sometimes you can even see a little hump on their back! What do you think these big bears eat?"

"They eat a lot of different things, like plants, juicy berries, fish from rivers, and sometimes even small animals."

(Advance to Slide 4: Black Bear)

"Next, we have the Black Bear. These bears are a bit smaller than the Brown Bear and are very common in North America. What color do you think their fur is usually?"

"Most of the time, they are black, but sometimes they can be brown or even a cinnamon color! They are excellent tree climbers! What kinds of food do you imagine they enjoy?"

"They love berries, nuts, insects, and yes, sometimes even honey! They might also snack on small deer."

(Advance to Slide 5: Polar Bear)

"Brrr! Now let's travel to a very cold place – the Arctic – to meet the Polar Bear! What do you notice about their color? Why do you think they are white?"

"Their white fur helps them blend in with the snow and ice, which is perfect for hunting! These bears are super big and powerful. What do you think they eat in such a cold place?"

"They mainly eat seals, which they hunt in the icy ocean. They are amazing swimmers!"

(Advance to Slide 6: Giant Panda)

"From the cold, we go to the mountains of China to see a very unique bear: the Giant Panda! What makes the Giant Panda look so special?"

"That's right, their black and white fur! It's very distinct. What do you think a Giant Panda's favorite food is?"

"Pandas mostly eat bamboo! They spend almost all day munching on it. It's a very specific diet!"

Bear Fact Match Activity (10 minutes)

"You've learned so many cool facts about different bears! Now, it's time to test your knowledge with our Bear Fact Match Activity. I'm going to hand out a worksheet to each of you. Your job is to match the facts to the correct bear species we just talked about."

(Distribute worksheets. Walk around to help students and answer any questions. After about 7-8 minutes, bring the class back together.)

"Let's review the answers together! Who wants to share their first match?"

(Go through the answers, using the Bear Fact Match Answer Key, and clarify any misunderstandings.)

Cool-Down: My Favorite Bear (5 minutes)

(Advance to Slide 7: Amazing Bears!)

"You all did a fantastic job today learning about these amazing forest friends. Before we finish, I want each of you to think of one new fact you learned about bears OR tell me which bear is your favorite and why."

(Call on several students to share. Encourage them to explain their choice or share a specific fact.)

"Excellent work, everyone! Bears are truly incredible creatures, and it's important that we learn about them and help protect their homes. Thank you for being such great learners today!"

Bear Brainstorm Warm-Up

Instructions: Think about bears! What comes to your mind when you hear the word "bear"? Write down or draw some of your ideas below.

What do you know or think about bears?

What kinds of bears do you know?

Where do bears live?

Bear Fact Match Activity

Instructions: Read each fact. Draw a line from the fact to the bear it describes!

Facts About Bears

A. This bear is usually black, but can be brown or cinnamon. It loves to climb trees!

B. This big bear has white fur to blend in with the snow and ice. It eats seals.

C. This bear lives in the mountains of China and mostly eats bamboo.

D. This big, strong bear has brown fur and a hump on its back. It eats berries, fish, and plants.

Bear Species

• Black Bear
  
  
  
  

• Giant Panda
  
  
  
  

• Polar Bear
  
  
  
  

• Brown Bear (Grizzly Bear)
  
  
  
  

Bear Fact Match Answer Key

Instructions: Check your answers by matching the facts to the correct bear species.

Facts About Bears & Matching Bear Species

A. This bear is usually black, but can be brown or cinnamon. It loves to climb trees!
* Matches: Black Bear

B. This big bear has white fur to blend in with the snow and ice. It eats seals.
* Matches: Polar Bear

C. This bear lives in the mountains of China and mostly eats bamboo.
* Matches: Giant Panda

D. This big, strong bear has brown fur and a hump on its back. It eats berries, fish, and plants.
* Matches: Brown Bear (Grizzly Bear)

My Favorite Bear Cool-Down

Instructions: Share one new fact you learned about bears, OR tell us which bear is your favorite and why!