Shhh! Bear's Sleeping: Learning About Nonfiction and Fiction Using Read-Alouds

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2002)
  
  
• Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky (Putnam, 1996)
  
  
• Chart paper and markers
  
  
• Overhead transparencies and projector
  
  
• Small paper bags (e.g., lunch bags)
  
  
• Art supplies

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing & Publishing Prose

Stapleless Book

The Stapleless Book can be used for taking notes while reading, making picture books, collecting facts, or creating vocabulary booklets . . . the possibilities are endless!

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Facts About Brown Bears
  
  
• Bear Puppet Template
  
  
• Stapleless Book Planning Sheet

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WEBSITES

• National Geographic Kids: Brown Bears
• North American Bear Center
  

• National Wildlife Federation: Grizzly Bear
• NatureWorks: Grizzly Bear
• CanTeach: Songs & Poems - Bears
• Bear Unit: Mrs. Fischer's Kinder-Themes

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PREPARATION

1.	Obtain and familiarize yourself with Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Every Autumn Comes a Bear by Jim Arnosky. The first is a fictional picture book that shows a bear sleeping in his cave while other animals join him for a midwinter party, eventually waking him up. The second is a nonfiction book about a bear that shows up at a farm every autumn. The story tells about a series of routines the bear does before finding a den among the hilltop boulders where he sleeps all winter.
2.	Practice reading the two books aloud, preparing to pause and ask students questions as you do so. You may want to write some of the following prompts on sticky notes. Questions for Bear Snores On: (Page 1) Where is the bear? (Pages 2-3) Why do you think the bear is curled up? (Pages 4-5) Why is Mouse building a fire? Will it wake Bear? (Pages 10-11) Why does Hare look frightened? (Pages 12-13) What is in Badger's bag? (Pages 14-15) Would it be hard to sleep if someone was crunching on nuts? (Pages 16-19) What are the animals doing while Bear is sleeping? Would real animals do this? (Pages 20-21) Mouse is adding something to the stew. What is it? Why is the mouse cooking? (Pages 22-23) What is Bear doing? What made him sneeze? (Pages 24-25) Why is Bear so grouchy? Would a real bear be grouchy? (Pages 26-27) Bear is crying. Why? (Page 30) Who is sleeping now? Questions for Every Autumn Comes a Bear: (Pages 1-4) What is the setting of the story? (Pages 5-6) Can you tell what season it is? How? (Pages 7-12) What do you think the bear is searching for? (Pages 13-14) Where is the raccoon? What is the bear doing? (Pages 15-21) As we look at the next few pages, what other animals are in the forest with the bear? Does the bear notice the other animals? (Pages 22-23) What season is it now? (Pages 24-25) Where is the bear going? What will he do there? Do you remember another name for a den? (Pages 26-28) Why do you think the bear is curled up? How long will he stay in the den?
3.	Use the National Geographic Kids: Brown Bears, North American Bear Center, National Wildlife Foundation: Grizzly Bear, and the NatureWorks: Grizzly Bear websites to find information to share about bears and hibernation. Pick the amount and type of information that is appropriate for your students (see Session 2, Step 1). You can also use the Facts About Brown Bears handout with your students.
4.	Copy "Big Paws" and "Little Bear" from CanTeach: Songs & Poems - Bears and "Bear Finger Play" from Bear Unit: Mrs. Fischer's Kinder-Themes on chart paper or overhead transparencies. Practice the song "Little Bear," which is sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques," and the finger motions that accompany "Bear Finger Play."
5.	Make a paper-bag bear puppet using the Bear Puppet Template to show students as an example.
6.	Visit and familiarize yourself with the Stapleless Book. Make a transparency of the Stapleless Book Planning Sheet.

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