We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We have been enjoying this FUN book as part of our Before Five in a Row curriculum with Daniel.  He has loved reading the story and acting it out!  Over and over and over again.  He giggles wildly when we are being chased by the bear.  He also loves when we all flop into the big bed upstairs.  Eliana likes the part in the book where we "stumble, trip ... stumble trip" through the forest. 

One of the things that I love about Before FIAR is that is has gotten me to try things that I might not have otherwise.  I think we all have things we are comfortable doing and I appreciate being stretched to get out of my comfort zone to try some new things - which sometimes also end up being things that I enjoy.  One of these things was "drama".  Rebecca LOVED the drama activities from the time she was a little girl.  I wouldn't have thought of this on my own, but am so thankful that Jane (author of the curriculum and friend) suggested doing this.  Since doing it with Rebecca (and Christopher), I've since enjoyed it with all the rest of our children and made many fun memories too.

I wish I had some pictures of us acting out the story, but, I was busy acting.  LOL

We also enjoyed some activities in a box that my sweet friend Catherine made for me.  I thought I'd share a picture of some of them.

There are pictures of the different areas in the book as well as the printed words describing the areas.  I had Daniel put these in sequential order and then match up the words with the picture.  He doesn't read so we were just working on beginning letter sounds like "sssss" for snowstorm.

Next were some sensory items.  These were a huge hit with my boy with Sensory Integration issues.  We didn't use these in a "hunt" like the label says - I should figure out how to do that.  Instead we just played with them, talked about it and had fun.  I threw the cotton balls on him and we talked about snow.  He felt the swishy grass.  He really loved the little tube he could  put his fingers into.  You just never know what is going to be a hit some days. 

Last, but definitely not least, were the felts.  He loved acting out the story - with me - using the felts.  We did this many times.  We used it first for sequencing and talking about the order of the story.  We repeated the lines and concepts in the story line as we acted it out.

This is made using a scan and transfer paper.  You then iron it onto felt.  Isn't it cute?!  Here is most of it stretched across the floor.

Here are some close-ups.

If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it.  It is a lot of fun.  I hope these ideas are helpful to someone. 

Blessings,

Leslie