For Teachers:

There are a number of organizations that provide educational materials and ideas for teachers. Incorporate a bear unit into your class!

Online resources

The American Bear Association is a great resource to help teach kids of all ages about the wonders of the black bear. Resources incorporate all of the disciplines: Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science as well as some fun stuff for Art, Music, Cooking and Games. Link here.

The American Bear Association also provides a list of other organizations that provide resources for teachers. Many of them have materials and activities that you are free to download without charge. Some require that you purchase certain items. You'll find enough ideas on the list to make your study of bears and the natural world exciting for your students, and fun to teach, as well! Link here.

Ontario Bear Wise website includes information about black bear ecology providing teachers with a classroom ready resource on: background readings on the Bears of North America; hibernation and bear-human interactions; lesson plans and suggested activities; resources including a glossary, list of books and web sites and information sheets about black bears. This program aims to generate awareness about black bears - their biological needs; their behaviour and how human action influences bears. It is an initiative of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Guides for grades 2, 4 and 7 are downloadable. Link here.

Download activities for your students

Check out the eco-related resources from CPAWS (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society).

Bears of Banff: In this simulation game students assume the role of grizzlies as they try to meet their basic needs in a compromised ecosystem. Download the .pdf.

Where is Sophie? Using real GPS data points, students analyze a map to determine if Sophie, a real bear, is behaving the way a normal bear should. Download the .pdf.

Why the Y2Y ? Students represent various stakeholders on the issue of conserving habitat for bears, illustrating the complexities. Download the .pdf.

Ecosystem Enigmas: Students learn about the enigmas that occur when we try to manage a complex ecosystem. Find out why trees need bears and wolves! Download the .pdf.

Weird Webs: What happens when you remove a grizzly bear or a flower from an ecosystem or food web? Play this game to find out! Download the .pdf.

Get an Edukit

A trunk full of props educators can borrow (large and small size). The kit contains books, scat (rubberized), claws, skull, fur sample/pelt, puppets, and a radio collar.

Available from Friends of Banff National Park. Reserving a Kit: email or phone the Friends of Banff National Park 403-762-8918. For more information see the website.

Books and Other Written Materials

Wild About Bears! An Educator's Activity Guide: For educators working with children grades K to 7. This unique guide uses bears - and other environmental-related topic - as organizing concepts in teaching to allow students to reach a deeper understanding so they can apply their knowledge to the real world. It contains a conceptual framework, key concept overview, primer and lots of activities. To order, contact: Wild BC, Suite 100 - 333 Quebec St, Victoria, BC V8V 5B7 or Phone: toll free 800-387-9853, ext 4; Fax: 250-952-6684; Email: wild@gov.bc.ca; Website: www.wildbc.org

Grizzly Bears Forever! A teacher activity guide for Science 7, 8 and 9 Available from Canadian Parks and Wilderness (CPAWS) For more information email CPAWS visit their website. This guide is also available from Friends of Banff National Park. Email or phone 403-762-8918

WSPA Bears of the World: Fact sheets and Education activities
This resource , published by the World Society for the Protection of Animals, was specifically developed for use in schools, aimed at pupils from 9-14 years of age. It contains a series of information sheets on the eight bear species and a Bear Facts booklet, as well as a full colour "Bears of the Word" wall chart. The aim of the resource is to provide information about the natural lives of the world's eight bear species, the threats they face and ways in which humans can help to safeguard their habitats and their welfare. To obtain a kit, email or visit WSPA's website.

The Florida Black Bear Curriculum Guide (193 pages)
This outstanding, beautifully illustrated Curriculum Guide is a comprehensive series of lessons on the natural history and conservation needs of Florida's black bear. It is designed to educate and stimulate teachers and students in grades 3-8. The lessons address many subject areas such as reading, language arts, history, geography, social studies, math, art and science. While the guide focuses on Florida's black bear, it contains a plethora of fabulous and creative activities as well as great ideas for engaging students. For more information, see Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission's website.

For Kids and Students (and Teachers too)

Beary interesting websites

The American Bear Association Cubs Corner (online fun):
Cubs Corner contains quizzes, puzzles, scrambled words, word search, decode the message and other fun online activities.

Bear Wise Kid's Activity Booklet (downloadable)
An Activity booklet on "What you Should Know About Black Bears" containing a checklist, maze, crossword, rhyming words, word scramble, colouring pages, word search and some advice on what you can do when a bear comes into your schoolyard. A great resource for teachers too.

Books

Bear Smart Kids
Written and illustrated by Evelyn Kirkaldy
8 1/2" x 11" soft colour cover, 18 pages, black and white inside.

This book will make you smarter than the average bear! This is a wonderfully illustrated colouring and activity book about bears around the world, bear necessities, the life of a bear, crosswords and much more. A fantastic book for teachers too, produced by the Get Bear Smart Society. Order now.

Discovering Black Bears
by Margaret Anderson, Nancy Field, Karen Stephenson
Illustrated by Michael Maydak, published by Dog-Eared Publications, 2007
Soft cover, 40 pages, 8.5 x 11", many colour pages, ISBN: 978-0-941042-37-6

Discovering Black Bears is a nature activity book that explores the natural history of the black bear, its behaviour and habitat. It also covers bear-human conflicts and how problems can be resolved. This engaging book, aimed at children of all ages, introduces the reader to real-life bear biologists, who have new insights into bear behaviour. Discovering Black Bears has full color illustrations, a sheet of black bear stickers, and contains 20 activities designed to challenge children's minds. A great resource for teachers too.

To order, call 608-831-1410 or visit their web site: www.dog-eared.com

Youth Activity Booklet: Fun and Games to Become Bear Aware
Produced by Bear Aware, British Columbia Conservation Foundation
Contact: Jacques Drisdelle e:jacques@bccf.com or 1-250-398-8609

Video

Bear with Me: A Young Person's Guide to Black Bear Safety

In Bear with Me we follow young Josh on his quest to write a story about black bears for his school newspaper. He interviews an expert, has a close encounter with a bear during a camping trip, and learns about all the dos and don'ts of living in bear country. Sometimes funny, always informative, this program provides young viewers with what they need to know to live safely with black bears.

For home use, please contact:
Pinegrove Productions email: pinegrove@superaje.com
For educational distribution, contact: McNabb Connolly
Phone: 866 722 1522 / 905 278 0566 email: info@mcnabbconnolly.ca

Fun stuff

Playing Cards

We carry two versions of Bear Smart playing cards. Both are unique decks of 52 regular playing cards (plus 2 jokers) that you can use to play your favourite card games or create new variations on traditional card games. Ideas for variations on games are included inside.

Help bears while having fun! Proceeds go towards saving bears' lives.

Play your way through bear country as you learn to live with your ursine neighbours.

Get 52 Tips on Staying Safe in Bear Country while At Home, Hiking, Camping, and all about General Bear Etiquette.

Get Bear Smart Bruin Trivia Game is designed for kids. Aside from playing any game that requires 52 regular playing cards (plus 2 jokers), it can also be used to play Bruin Trivia. Each card contains a 'question and answer' to help kids learn all about black, grizzly and polar bears.

Get Bear Smart Bruin Trivia Game is great for kids of all ages. Adults will enjoy the game too! It's great fun for the whole family!

 

 

Bookmarks

Order these free book marks.

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