Winter Storytime Plan (Bears)
Storytime Plan: Bears Theme
Created by: Laura Baas
Age Group: Preschool
Time: 30 minutes
Note: The following storytime plan can be as flexible as it needs to be; feel free to make as many additions, substitutions, and customizations as suits your purposes. Another Note: If you wish, you could advertise that the kids should bring in a teddy bear if they have one and then spend a few minutes introducing each others’ bears.
Introduction and Song (5 minutes)
Introduction: Welcome to the all-about-bears storytime. Some bears up north are probably still in hibernation right now, but I’m glad that you decided against hibernation today and that you have come out for storytime to hear about bears.
Song: Bear (To the tune of: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Bear, bear, bear, big bear,
Hunting near the trees.
Feasting on the honeycomb
Made by busy bees.
(bzzz, bzzz, bzzz)
Bear, bear, bear, big bear,
Wading in the lake.
Fish is your favourite dish:
Which one will you take?
(swish, swish, swish)
Bear, bear, bear, big bear,
Resting in your den.
Sleeping through the winter
Before you’re out again.
(zzz, zzz, zzz)
Read Aloud Bear Books:
Choose one or two of Karma Wilson’s Bear Books (they’re all short, fun, and well-done…plus, the rhyming and repetition are sure to make them a hit):
1. Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
Mouse, Hare, Badger, Mole, Wren and Raven decide that they’d rather face the bear than the weather as they seek shelter from winter in bear’s cave…as the bear snores on. When bear does awaken, the other animals are in for a (pleasant) surprise.
2. Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
It’s spring and bear is hungry. While the previous book’s refrain is about snoring on, kids will be sure to chime in for this book’s “But the bear wants more!
3. Bear Stays up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
Bear’s friends wake him up on Christmas Eve and engage him in several engaging activities in order to keep him awake for a Christmas full of celebration and surprises.
4. Bear’s New Friend by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
Who is this mystery creature that the bear hears? Kids will likely delight in they mystery and in the repeat refrain “And the Bear asks, ‘Who?’”
5. Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
It’s reassuring to have friends surround you when you’re sick, or at least it is in this book where “Bear feels sick.” His friends do everything they can think of to get bear back on his feet.
Song for in-between books: You are my Teddy Bear (To the tune of: You are my Sunshine) Note: this song works particularly well if a bear puppet is available and/or the kids have brought in their own teddy bears
You are my teddy bear
My only teddy bear
You make me smile dear
You are my friend
You’ll never know dear
How much I like you
I’m so glad you’re my
Teddy Bear today.
OR
T-E-D-D-Y (to the tune of: B-I-N-G-O)
There was a boy who had a bear
and Teddy was his name-O
T E D D Y, T E D D Y, T E D D Y
and Teddy was his name-O.
OR
Bear is Sleeping (to the tune of: Are You Sleeping?)
Bear is sleeping, Bear is sleeping.
In a cave, In a cave.
I wonder when he’ll come out,
I wonder when he’ll come out.
In the spring, In the spring.
More Bear Read-Aloud Books:
1. The Bear Came Over to My House by Rick Walton and James Warhola
Spinning off The Bear Came over the Mountain, this book will keep kid’s engaged and guessing from the first line (The bear came over to my house to see what he could see. . . . And what do you think the bear saw? ME!).
The following books all feature Eddie (the bear) and his teddy:
2. It’s the Bear! by Jez Alborough
A boy and his teddy bear meet bear and his teddy bear once again in this charming sequel to Where’s my Teddy.
3. My Friend Bear by Jez Alborough
The third book showcasing Eddie and his teddy has Eddie learning about facing fears and friendship.
4. Where’s my Teddy by Jez Alborough
A teddy bear mix-up provides the foundation for this story about a small boy and a giant bear who are both searching for their lost teddy bears. In the end, both small boy and big bear find comfort as the lost is found.
Song and Conclusion:
Song: Hug, Hug, Hug Your Bear (to the tune of: Row, Row, Row your boat)
Hug, hug, hug your bear
Squeeze him very tight
Hold him high
Help him fly
Then hug with all your might.
Departing Song (optional):
It’s time to go home, It’s time to go, home, Wave good-bye to everyone, It’s time to go home.
Additional Verses: We had a happy day, It’s time to go home
Time Fillers:
How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear? : What are Homonyms and Homophones (Words are Categorical) by Brian P. Cleary and Brian Gable
OR
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? (Stories to Go!) by Nancy White Carlstrom and Bruce Degen
OR
Craft Options: Search the web for a simple Bear-related craft such as the ones found at DLTK’s Teddy Bear Craft Page and at First School’s Teddy Bear Page.
OR
Technology links: If you have a projector and a way to connect to the Web, show kids around National Geographic’s Creature Features that feature bears such as the Polar bears and Brown bears. Show kids the pictures they can view and the videos they can watch. Perhaps even watch one of the videos. Another option is to choose from some of the bear-related resources compiled by Kennesaw State University’s Education Department for kids.
Other Bear-Related Picture Books to Consider for Display:
Addis Berner Bear Forgets by Joel Stewart
Baby Bear, Baby Bear What Do you See? by Bill Martin and Eric Carle
A Bear and His Boy by Sean Bryan and Tom Murphy
Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone and Debbie Harter (interactive rhyming book: teaches shapes and counting)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do you See? by Bill Martin and Eric Carle
Dog and Bear by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Jamberry by Bruce Degen and Peter Fernandez
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? (Stories to Go!) by Nancy White Carlstrom and Bruce Degen
The Large and Growly Bear by Gertrude Crampton
Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson and Stephen Savage
A Story for Bear by Dennis Haseley and Jim LaMarche
Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle and Matt Phelan
For more ideas regarding recently published books for the juvenile audience that are about and/or including bears, see my WorldCat.org list: Bears.
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