We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Activities for Preschool

Gross motor songs are a favorite activity in preschool classrooms. One classic preschool favorite is We’re Going on a Bear Hunt! Students love to swish through the tall grass, cross the cold river, slog through the mud, and creep through a dank, dark cave just to come face to face with a cranky bear – all in the safety of their classroom. But this fun little action poem doesn’t have to be relegated to music and motion time alone! Here are several fun We’re Going on a Bear Hunt activities to bring this fun rhyme to life in other classroom areas.

Introducing the Poem

Teachers new to the poem “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” will be relieved that copies of the book are available online and at local libraries. Students love acting out the large motions of the story, especially doing the entire thing in reverse when the bear is discovered!

Going on a Bear Hunt Activities: Felt Board Fun

After exploring the book in circle time, practice sequencing with a delightful felt-board option found at Rally Felt Company. Students practice telling the story in their own words and act out the motions independently or with a teacher’s guidance. Leave the book available for students to refer to it as necessary.

Going on a Bear Hunt Activities: Sensory Play Trays

The story uses many delightful sensory words, making it perfect for a sensory play station! Students love the chance to retell the story in their own words while acting it out at this sensory station.

This sensory station entices students to come back and play again and again while practicing their sequencing skills and retelling the story.

Materials Needed for a Bear Hunt

This sensory station is easy to set up. Of course, it is a little messy when the students enjoy it, but the best lessons are the ones with messes! Gather up the following supplies:

• Five small trays – deep ones work best
• The cave – A hollow wooden block or small box
• A basket of dollhouse people (plastic, as they’ll be in water and mud!)
• The long grass – A small piece of artificial grass (found at craft stores or online)
• The cold river – Some river rocks or floral gems in blue, clear, and green (found at any dollar store)
• Thicky oozy mud – don’t use potting soil as it often has fertilizer, just plain dirt, please!
• The forest – Artificial leaves and small trees – again, dollar store to the rescue!
• The swirling snowstorm – cotton balls, cloud dough, or even artificial snow
• Printables – found HERE

This center captivates students for a long time. While there, they’re practicing social skills, remembering the story, retelling it in their own words, engaging in pretend play, getting tremendous sensory input from the different materials – and most importantly, having fun!

Going on a Bear Hunt Activities: Interactive Bulletin Board

Interactive bulletin boards are a fantastic way to engage students in a different kind of play while making the most of the space available. This sweet, straightforward movement activity gets students to count, use their gross motor skills, and review the story again!

To play the game on the interactive bulletin board, students roll the die and act out the motions that match the number. They practice counting, reading pictures, remembering parts of the story, gross motor skills, and taking turns.

Going on a Bear Hunt Activities: Move and Groove!

Students enjoy acting out the motions that go along with the story. Add a little extra movement with this fun Going on a Bear Hunt yoga adventure from Cosmic Kids.

Winding down for the Day

After all of the interactive classroom fun, encourage students to “hibernate” by slowing their bodies down and enjoying a quiet activity. Surely they will be ready to go on another bear hunt in no time!