Five Bears

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Bear is walking through the forest, minding his own business, when he comes across another bear. The Other bear is different. The two bears wander along, thinking different thoughts and looking in different directions. Soon, the two bears come across another bear and then another bear, and eventually find a bear stuck in a tree. The bears realise that perhaps they aren’t that different after all, and perhaps they could be friends?

English:

Write a new story about three, four or five bears (or other animals). How are they similar / different? What adventures might they have? What could they learn from each other?
Add a sixth bear to this story. What would they be called? How would they interact with the other five bears?
Create an acrostic poem, based on a theme of friendship, using the word BEARS.
Make a list of adjectives and adverbs to describe each bear.
Retell the story from the first bear’s point of view.
Rewrite the direct speech as indirect / reported speech.
Write a sequel to this book, about an adventure the five bears have together.
Watch this video of Catherine Rayner reading her book. Think of some questions you would like to ask her about being an author / illustrator:

Maths:

If there are five bears in the story, how many eyes / ears / noses / legs (etc) do they have in total?

Science:

Find out the similarities and differences between different types of bears (e.g. polar bears, brown bears, pandas). Where are their natural habitats? This video gives a good introduction:

What does hibernation mean? Do all bears hibernate?
Create an information board about a bear to display in a zoo or wildlife park.
The star constellation, Ursa Major, is also known as the Great Bear. Can you find out more about it?

Computing:

Create a stop-motion animation that shows a bear moving.
Design a Scratch game that involves one bear moving around an area to find other bears.

Design Technology:

Use junk modelling materials to make a model of one of the bears in the story.
Design and build a den for one of the bears.
Make a pop-up page that retells part of this story.
Stitch together a teddy bear (or bear puppet) that looks like one of the bears in this story.
Design a friendship bracelet or badge for each of the bears in the book.

Art:

Look at photos of bears and use them as the starting point for your own drawings / paintings.
Choose one of the bears in the story and make a portrait of them. Could you use a similar style / technique to the illustrator of this book?
Compare different illustrations of bears (e.g. Winnie the Pooh, Paddington, Baloo). Use these as inspiration for your own illustrated bear character.

Geography:

Make a map that shows where bears live around the world.
Make a simple map that shows the bears’ journey in the story.

History:

Find out about famous bears throughout history (e.g. Smokey Bear and Bart).
Explore the history of teddy bears. How have teddy bear designs changed over time?

Physical Education:

Can you move like a bear, or plan and perform a dance based on bears?

Religious Education:

Some religions follow the practice of bear worship. Can you find out more about this?

Languages:

Find out the word for ‘bear’ in other languages.

PSHE:

The four bears say, “Some things are hard on your own.” Can you recall a time when this was true in your life?
The bears in the story are all very different, but they become friends. How are you similar / different to your friends?
The bears become friends as they walk, talk, laugh, listen and learn together. What, do you think, makes a good friend?