Lesson Plan
Fat Bear Week Fun!
Students will learn about the ecological importance of Fat Bear Week in Alaska, understand bear adaptations for hibernation, and create a 'fat bear' art project.
This lesson highlights real-world biology, animal adaptations, and the importance of healthy ecosystems, particularly the role of salmon in the Alaskan wilderness. It connects science to a fun, engaging event.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through a short presentation, discussion, and a creative art activity.
Materials
- Fat Bear Week Fun! Slide Deck, - Fat Bear Art Project Guide, - Construction paper (various colors, especially brown/black/white), - Scissors, - Glue sticks, - Markers, crayons, or colored pencils, - Optional: Cotton balls or crumpled paper for 'fat' effect, and - Optional: Salmon cutouts/printouts
Prep
Gather Materials & Review Content
15 minutes
- Review the Fat Bear Week Fun! Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print out copies of the Fat Bear Art Project Guide (one per student).
- Gather construction paper, scissors, glue sticks, and coloring supplies.
- (Optional) Prepare cotton balls or crumpled paper for students to add 3D 'fat' to their bears.
- (Optional) Cut out small paper salmon shapes or have printouts available for students to add to their artwork.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Do You Know About Bears?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "What comes to mind when you think of bears?" Allow a few students to share.
2. Introduce the concept of hibernation and why bears need to gain a lot of weight before winter. You can use the first slide of the Fat Bear Week Fun! Slide Deck.
Step 2
Introduction to Fat Bear Week
10 minutes
- Present the Fat Bear Week Fun! Slide Deck, focusing on slides that explain what Fat Bear Week is, where it takes place (Katmai National Park, Alaska), and why it's important (bear health, ecosystem health, salmon run).
2. Emphasize the role of salmon as a critical food source for bears.
3. Encourage questions and facilitate a brief discussion about the bears' amazing adaptations.
Step 3
Fat Bear Art Project
10 minutes
- Distribute the Fat Bear Art Project Guide and materials (construction paper, scissors, glue, coloring supplies).
2. Explain the project: Students will create their own 'fat bear' collage or drawing, showing the bear's impressive size and perhaps some salmon.
3. Circulate around the room, offering assistance and encouraging creativity. Remind students of the goal: to show a bear that is ready for winter!
Step 4
Share and Reflect
5 minutes
- Ask a few volunteers to share their 'fat bear' creations with the class.
2. Lead a brief discussion: "What was the most surprising thing you learned about Fat Bear Week?" or "Why is it important for these bears to get so fat?"
3. Conclude by reiterating the importance of conservation and understanding wildlife cycles.
Slide Deck
Fat Bear Week Fun!
Get Ready for the 'Weight' of the World!
Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of the day. Ask them what they already know or think about bears. This sets the stage for discussing hibernation and the need for bears to gain weight.
Bears & Hibernation: The Big Sleep
- Bears sleep for months during winter!
- They need a lot of energy to survive without food.
- How do they get this energy? By eating A LOT before winter comes!
Explain that bears, especially brown bears in Alaska, need to eat a lot of food during the summer and fall to store energy for when they sleep through the winter. This sleep is called hibernation.
What is Fat Bear Week?
- An annual competition celebrating the success of Alaskan brown bears!
- Who gets the fattest to survive winter hibernation?
- It's a celebration of nature's success!
Introduce Fat Bear Week! Explain it's a real event celebrating the bears' success in preparing for winter. It's a fun way to learn about their biology and the importance of their habitat.
Where Does the Magic Happen?
- Katmai National Park, Alaska!
- A wild place with incredible rivers full of fish!
Show them where Katmai National Park is on a map (virtually, if possible, or just describe its location in Alaska). Emphasize that it's a wild place with lots of food, especially salmon.
Salmon: The Bear's Power Food!
- Salmon are fish that swim upstream to lay their eggs.
- They are full of healthy fats and proteins.
- Bears gather at rivers like Brooks River to feast!
Explain the role of salmon. Discuss how the bears line up at the Brooks River to catch migrating salmon. This is a crucial food source, packed with fat and protein, essential for them to bulk up.
Why So Chunky? It's Survival!
- The more fat a bear has, the more energy it stores.
- More energy = better chance of surviving hibernation!
- Being 'fat' is actually healthy and critical for these bears!
Reiterate why getting fat is a matter of survival. The fatter they are, the better their chances of surviving the long, cold winter without food. This is natural and healthy for them.
Time to Get Creative! Your Fat Bear Art Project
- Create your own 'fat bear' ready for winter!
- Think about how big and round they get.
- Show them feasting on salmon, or just looking plump and happy!
Introduce the art project as a way for students to creatively express what they've learned about the bears and their preparation for winter. Encourage them to be imaginative and incorporate details like salmon if they wish.
Activity
Fat Bear Art Project: Ready for Winter!
Introduction
Welcome, artists! Today, you've learned all about the incredible journey of the Alaskan brown bears during Fat Bear Week. These amazing animals work hard to eat as much as possible to get super fat, which helps them survive their long winter hibernation. Now it's your turn to show off what you've learned by creating your very own 'fat bear' masterpiece!
Materials Needed
- Construction paper (various colors, especially brown, black, or white for bears)
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- (Optional) Cotton balls or crumpled paper
- (Optional) Salmon cutouts/printouts
Instructions
Follow these steps to create your super fat bear:
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Design Your Bear Body: On a piece of construction paper, draw a large, round, and plump bear body. Remember, these bears are getting ready for winter, so the bigger and rounder, the better! Think of them as fluffy, well-fed giants.
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Add Details: Draw and cut out bear features like a head, ears, a snout, and paws. Glue them onto your large bear body.
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Make it REALLY Fat (Optional): Want your bear to look extra chunky? Glue cotton balls or small pieces of crumpled paper onto the bear's body before adding other details. This will give it a fantastic 3D, plump effect!
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Color Your Bear: Use your markers, crayons, or colored pencils to color your bear. Think about the different shades of brown, black, or even grizzly patterns you might see on a real bear.
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Feast on Salmon (Optional): If you have salmon cutouts or printouts, glue a few around your bear to show what they've been feasting on! If not, you can draw some delicious salmon swimming nearby.
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Add a Background: Draw a simple background for your bear. Is it at a river? In the forest? Getting ready for its long sleep? Be creative!
Tips for Success!
- Don't be afraid to make your bear really big and round. That's the point of Fat Bear Week!
- Use different colors and textures to make your bear unique.
- Think about the expression on your bear's face – is it happy, sleepy, or focused on food?