Bear Says Thanks Activites, Close Reading Strategies, and Story Stretchers
Get ready for some Bear Says Thanks Activities for your classroom! Bear Says Thanks is a wonderful book for the Thanksgiving season! First, it is a great read-aloud for kids from preschool to kindergarten. Secondly, the characters in the book have so much to teach about friendship, gratitude and coming together for celebrations that it just warms your heart. I have created a resource to bring this fantastic story to life with art, writing, songs, math, fine motor work, science, and of course, literacy activities. Get ready to dive into this wonderful world created by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. You and your kiddos will love it!
Close Reading Guides and Suggestions
First, when beginning a close read it is important to have a roadmap to help guide you along the way. The first read is an introduction, the second read dives deeper into the characters, the story, and the central question. The third read is all about comprehension and answering all the ‘why’ questions posed in the first and second read. Included in this resource is everything you need to make a close read of ‘Bear Says Thanks’ successful. You will see how the following activities will help your students take a deeper look at the characters and the story. Each activity enhances comprehension and overall understanding of the story in some way.
Character & Vocabulary Cards
Bear Says Thanks Math Activity
Spin, Graph, & Count games are a favorite in my classroom. The added bonus with this game is there is a constant reminder of what food each animal brought to the feast in Bear’s lair. AS well as a reminder of all the characters in the story. Visually it is always there, and as the game is played it is reinforced. Additionally, there is a counting and fine motor skill element to the math game as well! this one is a winner! All you need is a clear spinner from Hand 2 Mind and you are set!
Bear Says Thanks Writing Prompts
This Bear Says Thanks writing activity makes us pause and think about what we say ‘thanks’ for in our lives. As your students complete this activity, make sure there is plenty of discussion about what Bear and his Friends were thankful for in the book. This will help with comprehension as we make the story relatable to our own lives.
Bear Says Thanks Animal Fact Cards
The animals of the story are cute and interesting little forest creatures. But wouldn’t it be nice to learn more about these animals and how they live? These fact cards tell 5 facts about each animal in the story. One great thing about these cards is, not only does it bring science into the realm of literacy, but it actually helps us make sense of why each animal brought what it did to the feast. To make it even better, the fact cards have real-life photos of the animals in their native habitats!
Hibernation Craft
I love how this activity brings science and art into literacy. Our dear friend Bear is visited in his lair. What’s a lair? Well, here it is! We answer a vocabulary question and introduce a new and useful word. With this craft, we can fit Bear snuggly in his lair, all warm and cozy!
Vocabulary Matching Game
These vocabulary cards can be used to enhance storytelling or as a memory game. As luck would have it, my PreK kiddos are just beginning to understand the whole ‘memory game’ concept. As a result, I like to do a vocabulary memory game center every few weeks to assess vocabulary knowledge and to see if there has been any progress in recall. However you choose to use these cards, they will help with vocabulary and comprehension no matter what!
Bear Says Thanks Story Retelling Kit
I have learned that nothing brings a story to life and boosts comprehension more than a dramatic retelling. This resource has 2 different ways to retell the story of Bear and his friends. This one with the little characters and the background scenery is great for small group centers. The next one is perfect for whole group activities and putting on a little ‘play’. Either one will do the trick and will be thoroughly enjoyed!
Character Hats for Group Story Retelling
I use headbands and masks for story retelling a lot in my class. Usually, I will usually separate my class into smaller groups giving each student int he group a character assignment. The other kids will sit and practice being a ‘good audience’. Next, I will reread the book as the students act it out. Consequently, comprehension increases as the students use their whole body to tell the story. I absolutely love this kind of retelling and this kit is perfect for it! You may need to make adjustments to the characters to fit your number of students. But what are teachers if not resourceful?
Again, you can find these activities in my Bear Says Thanks Close Read Strategies & Story Stretchers resource in my TPT store. There is also a bundle available too! 4 Stories in all. Click the picture below for more information and
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
