Bears Lapbook

Cut large piece out as one piece. Fold left and right flaps in on top and bottom. Fold bottom up. Affix title

to front cover.

AvoidUnwanted Contact

Cut out each shape (cut along the dark black lines; do not cut any dotted lines). Fold each book in half (four small books and one large book).

Glue the back sides of the sm

all books into the inside of your large book.

See diagram on next page to help you visualize w

hat your opened book will look like.

Wh

en

was h

e b

orn

?

Wh

at d

id h

e love to

d

o?

Wh

at w

ere so

me

of his

job

s?

Wh

en

did

he

die?

Theodore R

oosevelt

The Teddy Bear

Who refused to shoot the bear?

Who created Teddy�s bear?

Cut out book as one piece. Fold left side in. Fold right side in. Open book. Cut on dotted line to form

two flaps. Refold book.

Cut out shapes on solid black lines. Fold on dotted lines like an accordion (back and forth, back and forth). Signs of a

Bear

Where Where Where Where

dodododo

PolarPolarPolarPolar

Bears Bears Bears Bears

LiveLiveLiveLive

inininin

NorthNorthNorthNorth America?America?America?America?

Cut out rectangle as one piece. Fold on solid lines. You should have a

book that opens like the �shutters� on a window.

Affix the map onto the center panel and mark the bears' habitat.

Cut books out. Fold matchbook style.

What Does

PlantigradePlantigradePlantigradePlantigrade Mean?

What is aWhat is aWhat is aWhat is a Polar Bear�sPolar Bear�sPolar Bear�sPolar Bear�s

Favorite Food?Favorite Food?Favorite Food?Favorite Food?

In a tree...

What could it be?

Cut shape out as one piece. Write one sun fact on each petal. Fold flaps in using the dotted lines as your guide. Tuck the last flap under so that book will stay closed.

HowHowHowHow Does aDoes aDoes aDoes a

Polar BearPolar BearPolar BearPolar Bear Stay Warm?Stay Warm?Stay Warm?Stay Warm?

Do Bears Hibernate Do Bears Hibernate?

Why Do Bears Hibernate?

Cut books out. Fold on lines (matchbook style)

Why Do Bears Hibernate?

Cut L-shape out as ON

E piece. Fold the top of the L shape dow

n. Fold the right rectangle in over the existing flap.

Grizzly? -or- B

rown B

lack Bear?

Cut book out as one piece. Fold top under. Fold bottom

under. O

pen book. Cut on solid black lines to form

three flaps. R

efold so that the cover is on the front.

De

ns

Po

lar

Be

ars

B

lac

k

Be

ars

B

row

n

Be

ars

Brown Bears:

How They Fish

Cut book out on solid black lines. Fold in thirds on dotted lines.

Where do

Brown Bears

Live in

North America?

Cut out rectangle as one piece. Fold on solid lines. You should have a

book that opens like the �shutters� on a window.

Affix the map onto the center panel and mark the bears' habitat.

Western United States Central United States

Eastern United States

Cut

out

rect

angl

es.

Stac

k to

geth

er

(sm

alle

st t

o la

rges

t) w

ith c

over

on

top

and

stap

le.

Black Bears’

Coat of

Many Colors

Alaska

Alaska

Favo

rite

Food

s of

the

Bla

ck B

ear

Glue this portion

to book. Fold in sides. Fold title page dow

n last so that the title is on top. Cut and glue pictures to inside.

Where Where Where Where dodododo

American American American American

BlackBlackBlackBlack Bears Bears Bears Bears Live?Live?Live?Live?

Cut out rectangle as one piece. Fold on solid lines. You should have a

book that opens like the �shutters� on a window.

Affix the map onto the center panel and mark the bears' habitat.

Big

Big

ge

r

Big

ge

st

Cut out the rectangle on each page. Stack together with the sm

allest on top and the largest on the bottom

. Staple at the top.

black bears- 130-660lbs, 5ft standing upright,

grizzly bears- 350-700lbs, 7-9 ft standing,

coastal brown

bears- 800-1200 lbs, 11 feet standing,

polar bears- 880-1320 lbs, 13 ft standing

PRINT ON CARDSTOCK. Cut each piece out on the solid black lines (you will have 22 pieces when finished) and at-tach with brass fastener where indicated.

an adult male bear

dead and putrefying flesh

a baby bear

to discharge feces from the bowels

a species threatened with extinction

search for provisions

the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally lives and grows

to become inactive or dormant

the area to which an animal usually confines its daily activities

a group of young animals born together from the same mother

a warm blooded higher vertebrate that gives birth to live young, nourishes them with milk, and has skin

mostly covered with hair

to periodically shed hair, feathers, skin, a shell, antlers, or an outer covering peri-

the projecting jaws and nose of an animal

an animal that feeds on both plant and animal substances

walking on the sole with the heel touching the ground

an animal that hunts other animals for food

small gnawing animals that have in both jaws a single pair of incisors with a chisel

shaped edge

animal feces

grass-like herbaceous plants found especially in wet regions throughout the world

an adult female bear

Vocabulary: Boar- an adult male bear Carrion- dead and putrefying flesh Cub- a baby bear Defecate- to discharge feces from the bowels Endangered- a species threatened with extinction Forage-search for provisions Habitat-the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally lives and grows Hibernate-to become inactive or dormant Home range-the area to which an animal usually confines its daily activities Litter-a group of young animals born together from the same mother Mammal-a warm blooded higher vertebrate that gives birth to live young, nourishes them with milk, and has skin mostly covered with hair Molt-to periodically shed hair, feathers, skin, a shell, antlers, or an outer cover-ing periodically Muzzle-the projecting jaws and nose of an animal Omnivore- an animal that feeds on both plant and animal substances Plantigrade-walking on the sole with the heel touching the ground Predator-an animal that hunts other animals for food Rodent-small gnawing animals that have in both jaws a single pair of incisors with a chisel shaped edge Scat-animal feces Sedge-grass-like herbaceous plants found especially in wet regions throughout the world Sow- an adult female bear Torpor-a state of lowered physiological activity typically characterized by re-duced metabolism, heart rate, respiration, and body temperature

Vocabulary 

a state of lowered physiological activity typically char-acterized by reduced metabolism, heart rate,

respiration, and body temperature

What Are Bears�Most

Important Senses?

Most Important

2nd Most Important3rd Most Important

Cut out each rectangle. Stack in order with cover

on front and staple at the top of the book.

Cut pocket out as one piece. Fold back up. Wrap flaps around the back and glue down.

A BearA BearA BearA Bear

PoemPoemPoemPoem bybybyby

Mary Mary Mary Mary

AustinAustinAustinAustin

If you ever, ever, ever meet a grizzly bear, You must never, never, never ask him where He is going, Or what he is doing; For if you ever, ever dare To stop a grizzly bear, You will never meet another grizzly bear. -Mary Austin

Cut book out on solid lines; fold on dotted lines.

BEARAnatomy

Word Bank

body head paws fur

Bear Athletics

Who is the

Best...

Clim

ber

Swim

mer

Ru

nn

er

Cut out on solid lines and discard gray parts. Layer the pages and staple on the left side.

Bears Lapbook

VVooccaabbuullaarryy:

Boar- an adult male bear Carrion- dead and putrefying flesh Cub- a baby bear Defecate- to discharge feces from the bowels Endangered- a species threatened with extinction Forage- search for provisions Habitat- the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally lives and grows Hibernate- to become inactive or dormant Home range- the area to which an animal usually confines its daily activities Litter- a group of young animals born together from the same mother Mammal- a warm-blooded, higher vertebrate that gives birth to live young, nourishes them with milk, and has skin mostly covered with hair Molt- to shed hair, feathers, skin, a shell, antlers, or an outer covering periodically Muzzle- the projecting jaws and nose of an animal Omnivore- an animal that feeds on both plant and animal substances Plantigrade- walking on the sole with the heel touching the ground Predator- an animal that hunts other animals for food Rodent- small gnawing animals that have in both jaws a single pair of

incisors with a chisel-shaped edge Scat-animal feces Sedge- grass-like herbaceous plants found especially in wet regions throughout the world Sow- an adult female bear Torpor- a state of lowered physiological activity typically characterized by reduced metabolism, heart rate, respiration, and body temperature

SScciieennttiiffiicc CCllaassssiiffiiccaattiioonn::

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Genus: Ursus Species: Ursus Americanus (black bear), Ursus Arctos Horribilis (brown bear), Ursus Maritimus (polar bear)

HHaabbiittaatt:: No bears are found in Antarctica, Australia, or Africa. It is believed that bears in North America migrated from Asia. Bears are intelligent and adaptable and can learn to live in a variety of habitats. There are three kinds of bears in North America: black bears, brown bears, and polar bears.

Black Bears- the most common bear in North America. Of the bears we'll be discussing, it is the only bear that can be found only in North America as brown bears and polar bears can also be found in Europe and Asia. Black bears once lived in every state in the lower 48 states. Now they live in thickly wooded areas across Alaska and Canada, throughout the western United Sates and into Mexico, around the Great Lakes area, in pocketed areas along the eastern and southern coasts of the United States, along the Appalachian Mountains in the

east, and also in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. In recent years, confirmed sightings of black bears have occurred in the Piney Woods of East Texas (my home state!).

Brown Bears-once lived throughout most of North America. All brown bears are the same species; subspecies live in different areas. Grizzly bears live in the interior of the Western United States, Alaska, and Canada. Grizzlies are endangered in the Western United States, living only in National Parks in Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. They are more plentiful in Canada and Alaska. Alaskan brown bears live along Alaska’s coasts, and Kodiak bears live on Kodiak Island, in Alaska. Coastal brown bears are often called ‘brownies’. Brown bears live in forested areas in mountainous regions. They prefer open meadows, river valleys, and plains.

Polar Bears- live in the northernmost parts of Alaska and Canada near the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. Polar Bears live on the frozen sea ice in winter and on land in summer. The southernmost polar bears in the world live in the Hudson Bay area of northeastern Canada.

AAnnaattoommyy::Bears are mammals. All bears are large and stocky with short tails and short, thick legs. They have strong necks, large heads, small ears, long muzzles, forward-facing eyes, long claws, 5 toes on each foot, and strong jaws and teeth. All bears are plantigrade and walk flat footed like humans, rather than on their toes like dogs or cats. This allows them to stand up on their hind legs. Claws on bears’ front feet are longer than claws on the back feet. All bears have an excellent sense of smell, which is at least as good as a bloodhound’s, and good hearing. It was once thought that bears had poor eyesight, but scientists now believe bears have eyesight at least as good as humans. All bears have two kinds of fur-thick, warm underfur, and longer guard hair. Bears also have a thick layer of fat under their skin.

Black bears-the smallest of the 3 North American bears. Adult males weigh between 130-660 pounds. Not all black bears are black. The black bears in the East are black, sometimes with a white chest patch, while black bears in the West are brown, reddish brown or cinnamon colored. Glacier bears live in Alaska and British Columbia and are bluish grey in color. Some scientists believe these bears are simply another variation of the black bear, while others believe they are a separate subspecies. The elusive Kermode bear, another type of black bear which also lives along the Pacific coast of southern Alaska and British Columbia, is actually white or cream colored.

Black bears have longer, straighter snouts than brown bears, which are more stubby and curved. They have 42 teeth with sharp front teeth for tearing meat and flat molars for grinding plants. Smell is the most important sense in finding food and avoiding enemies. Black bears’ hearing is quite good as they have the largest ears of all North American bears. They can detect danger from far away and hide or leave. Eyesight is third in importance. Black bears’ eyes are small compared to their head size. It is unknown how well black bears can see. Black bears' claws are short and curved and are good for digging and climbing. Black bears’ tracks are 5” to 7” long and claw marks only show up when the earth is soft enough.

Brown bears- The Kodiak brown bear, also known as the Alaskan brown bear, is the largest with the male standing up to 10ft tall and weighing 1700 pounds. The fur color of brown bears can vary from blonde to almost black. Grizzly bears, nicknamed “silver tips,” have silver or white tips on their longer guard hairs, giving them a grey or “grizzled” appearance. Grizzlies live in the interior of Alaska and North America and are smaller than coastal brown bears, but larger than American black bears. Male Grizzlies can stand 6-7 ft tall and can weigh 300-850 lbs. Female Grizzlies can weigh 200-450 lbs.

Brown bears have a huge hump across their shoulders that black bears do not have. The shoulder hump is made up of strong muscles used for digging and quick bursts of speed for catching prey. They have broad faces with curved, stubby noses, giving their faces a concave appearance. Brown bears have an excellent sense of smell and can smell food 1 mile away. Their long claws are better equipped for digging than climbing. A grizzly’s paw print can be 12 inches in size and grizzly tracks always show claw marks due to their length. The cubs generally have a white fur collar on their neck and chest.

Polar bears- Similar in size to Kodiak brown bears. Males can stand 13 ft tall and weigh 1500 pounds. Females are ½ to 1/3 the size of males. This difference in size is attributed to the long months a pregnant female must hibernate in a den without eating.

An outer layer of long guard hair, thick, white wool undercoat, and a 4 inch layer of fat keep the polar bear warm through Arctic winters. Dense fur (2 inches thick) keeps wind out and heat in. Small ears and tail also help conserve heat. Polar bears can easily overheat in summer. Partially webbed feet make polar bears great swimmers. Their streamlined shape with a smaller head, long neck, and wider hindquarters helps polar bears cut a wake through the water. Dense, oily fur repels water and keeps their skin and undercoat dry. Only the guard hairs get wet when polar bears swim in the sea, and they can easily shake themselves dry when they climb out of the water. Polar bears have black noses, tongues, and skin. Guard hairs are clear and hollow and, combined with black skin, provide excellent heat absorption and insulation.

Polar bears may appear white, yellow, or brown, depending on the angle of the light reflecting off of the bears’ fur. Huge paws with thin hair between the pads and specialized bumps on the pads give the polar bear great traction on the ice. Pads may also give off enough heat to partially melt the ice the bears step on, further increasing

traction. Hooked claws like a black bear’s also help grip the ice. Polar bears do not have eyelashes as ice could collect on them. Polar bears’ teeth are all sharp, including the back molars, because they are needed for tearing meat rather than grinding plant material. A polar bear can smell a seal 20 miles away or under 3 feet of ice. The stomach of a large polar bear can hold up to 150 pounds of food at one feeding.

BBeehhaavviioorr:: All bears can swim and enjoy water. Bears have excellent memories and learn quickly. This allows them to adapt to changes in their environments. Most bears sleep through the winter, but they are not true hibernators. Bears go into a dormant state where their heart rate slows, but their body temperature does not drop significantly and they can wake up easily. True hibernators’ body temperatures drop to near freezing and they cannot wake up during hibernation. Bears can wake up during hibernation and may even come out of their dens for awhile. Bears create daybeds for napping during their active months. Bears stand on their hind legs to watch and listen as they assess a situation, but it is rarely an aggressive stance.

Black bears- Usually walk slowly looking for food, but can run 30 mph over short distances. Black bears are good swimmers and can swim across lakes and rivers. Adult black bears and cubs can climb trees quickly. They scoot back down rump first. Boars’ home ranges are generally about 15 square miles. Sows and cubs cover less territory. Black bears that are trapped and relocated can find their way back to their home range from 100 miles away. Black bears communicate with each other through growls, snorts, grunts, roars, and teeth clacking. Cubs whine and cry similar to human babies. Black bears make dens under rocks or roots of trees, or in caves. They make a bed of leaves and grass and stop eating before hibernating. They eat leaves, pine needles, and their own hair to form an anal plug. They don’t defecate

all winter and the den stays clean. Their bodies consume the 5 inches of fat they put on in the fall. They drink lots of water when the come out in March. Black bears in warmer climates where food is plentiful year-round do not hibernate at all.

Brown bears- have large home ranges and are not particularly territorial. Different bears’ territories can overlap. Brown bears are not as solitary as was once thought and they recognize a social pecking order when they come together in prime feeding or fishing areas. Large adult males claim the choicest spots, next are large adult females, and smaller adult males and females are at the bottom of the pecking order. Adult brown bears are too large to climb trees, but cubs can climb trees to escape danger. Females will attack larger males to protect their cubs. Brown bears stand upright to see and smell better-it is rarely an aggressive posture. They have an excellent sense of smell and can smell food 1 mile away. They can probably see and hear as well as humans. Brown bears can sprint up to 40 mph over short distances. Brown bears prefer to dig fresh dens for themselves into north facing hillsides where they will be protected and covered by snow. During active feeding months, they take short naps throughout the day and night. They eat continuously in the summer and fall to store up fat for the winter. Brown bears dig dens in November and hibernate until April. Their heart rate slows to 10 beats per minute. Sows wake up to care for newborn cubs..

Polar bears- Wander several hundred miles each year searching for food, but always circle back to a home area. Polar bears are solitary animals and adults, especially males, fight when they come in contact. Females are extremely protective of their cubs and will attack to defend them. Polar bears are especially good swimmers. They can easily swim for hours between ice floes without stopping. They use their back legs as a rudder to steer and paddle with their front legs, which have webbed toes. Polar bears use different hunting

techniques depending on the seasons. In summer they can surprise seals resting on ice floes by swimming up close to them or stalking them across the ice. On frozen sea ice in winter, polar bears will lie motionless for hours by a seal’s breathing hole, waiting for the seal to surface. In spring, polar bears can sniff out seals’ lairs and crash through the roof of the lair with their front paws. Pregnant sows dig dens into snow banks and hibernate through the winter. Male polar bears and females that are not pregnant do not hibernate at all, but travel far out on the frozen sea ice hunting seals. Polar bears that make the Hudson Bay area their home range do not hibernate at all since they must hunt all winter when the bay is frozen. In summer when food is scarce, the bears go into a wakeful yet dormant state to conserve energy and to keep cool. The bears congregate in and around Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, the polar bear capital of the world, in autumn as they wait for the sea ice to freeze over.

LLiiffee CCyyccllee:: All bears can live 20 years or more in the wild and longer in captivity. Age can be determined by counting the rings in a tooth, just like a tree. Bears are mammals and give birth to live young. Cubs are born in winter and weigh only 1 pound or less. Sows wake up to clean their cubs and to make sure the cubs are nursing. Cubs weigh 12-15 pounds when they emerge from their dens in spring. Cubs are helpless when they are born and are covered with fine hair, their eyes are closed, their ears lie flat, and they have no teeth. They nurse and sleep their first 2 months. Baby bears have blue eyes at birth, which darken as they grow. Cubs learn by watching and imitating their mothers. Boars have no part in raising their cubs, and are often a danger to cubs. Bear cubs are playful and curious. Sows discipline cubs by swatting them with their paws.

Black bears- Average life span is 15 years in the wild. The oldest black bear on record found in the wild was 30 years old. Sows mate in June and July and cubs are born in January or February. A first time mother

may have only 1 cub, and usually has a litter of 2 cubs in subsequent pregnancies. Older sows can have 3, 4, or even up to 6 cubs in a litter. Cubs weigh ½ pound at birth and are covered with fine hair, their eyes are closed, they have no teeth, and their ears lie flat. They nurse and sleep and are ready to leave the den at 2 months. Young cubs nurse and sample food the sow eats. They play and sleep a lot. Cubs climb trees to avoid danger. The sow and cubs hibernate together the first winter when the cubs are a year old. The sow leaves her cubs in their second June when the cubs are almost 2 years old, in order to mate again. The second winter siblings hibernate together and go their separate ways in their second spring. Most black bears do not die of old age. Even though they are the top predators in their ecosystem’s food chain, they still have many enemies. Wolf or dog packs may attack and kill a weak or sick bear. Other bears, either grizzlies or male black bears, are threats to cubs. Disease or parasites can claim the lives of bears. People are also a threat to black bears through loss of habitat, hunting, and being hit and killed by vehicles on roads.

Brown bears- Live about 25 years in the wild. Bears mate in May through July and sows give birth in January or February to a litter of 1-3 cubs, with 2 being the most common. Cubs weigh less than 1 pound, are blind, have no fur, and can not walk. By spring when cubs emerge from the den they weigh 10-12 pounds. Cubs stay with their mothers for 2-3 years. Cubs may stay with their mothers longer if food is scarce. Siblings hibernate together during their second winter and go separate ways in their second spring. Cubs may stay together another 2-3 years until they are old enough to breed and start their own families.

Polar bears- Females mate between March and June and must put on 400lbs before hibernating in October. Females dig dens in snowdrifts near a coastline, or out on the pack ice. Sows give birth to a litter of 1, 2 or 3 cubs, 2 being the most common, between November and January. Cubs weigh 1 lb at birth and are covered with short hair at

birth, unlike other species of bear cubs. The cubs are 20-40 lbs when the family emerges from their den in March or April. The family stays together 2 years, and siblings stay together until they are mature at 5 or 6 years. Polar bears can live 25-30 years in the wild and longer in captivity. Old bears are less able to hunt and die of starvation and exposure. Polar bears’ natural enemies are orcas and male walruses. Orcas attack and kill swimming bears and walruses can stab bears with their tusks.

FFoooodd cchhaaiinn: Bears are mammals and females nurse their young with milk. Adult bears are omnivores, eating both meat and plants.

Black bears- Are omnivores, but they mainly forage for food instead of stalking and killing. Black bears eat ants, tree bark, roots, mice, bugs under logs, ground squirrels, chipmunks, eggs and chicks from nests on the ground, young moose, elk or deer, nuts, berries along with stems and leaves, and carrion. Black bears especially enjoy blueberries, apples and acorns. Western black bears also enjoy salmon. Honey is a special treat, and black bears eat it hive and all. It is thought that bee stings inside the bears’ mouths don’t bother them. Their thick fur and skin protect them from stings. Black bears living near urban areas have adapted well. They raid garbage dumps and trash cans and forage at night while bears living deeper in wilderness areas will feed during the day.

Brown bears- Eat fish, marmots, ground squirrels and other small rodents, berries, roots, sedge, insects, young deer and moose, carrion, and clams. Brown bears in Alaska are called brownies and are larger than other brown bears. This is attributed to their rich salmon diet. Individual bears develop their own fishing strategies using claws or teeth to catch a fish, belly flopping into the water, or grabbing a fish right out of the water as it leaps. Cubs learn how to fish by watching their mothers. Brown bears can eat up to 90 pounds in late summer

and early autumn to fatten up for winter. Grizzly bears are mainly herbivores, with meat making up only about 10% of their diets, and most of that is carrion. Meanwhile, Alaskan brown bears eat more meat, especially salmon. This may account for why grizzly bears are smaller than other brown bears. A brown bear’s diet depends largely on what food is available in each season.

Polar bears- Mostly carnivorous, they are mainly hunters and meat eaters. Polar bears eat young seals and walruses, small whales, seabirds, fish, crabs, and whale carcasses in winter. In summer they will eat plants, berries, grass, moss, eggs, salmon, other fish, carrion, and will scavenge garbage dumps. Polar bears’ favorite food is ringed seal, but they are opportunistic and will eat anything they can find or catch. They eat mainly the skin and blubber of seals, leaving the rest of the carcass, since it has the highest fat content and requires the least amount of energy to digest. Polar bears do not need to drink water in order to survive. They get all the water they need from seal blubber.

BBeeaarrss aanndd ppeeooppllee:: Bears are potentially dangerous animals and people should learn what to do if they encounter a bear. People are more of a threat to bears than bears are to people. Loss of habitat through cutting trees and clearing land has been a greater threat to bear populations than hunting.

Black bears- have attacked and killed more people than any other North American bear, but they are actually the least aggressive of the three. Black bears can thrive very near urban areas and come in contact with humans more often than other bears. Also, people are less afraid of black bears than other bears and try to approach them or feed them, especially in park settings. Black bears coming to local garbage dumps are often a tourist attraction and this creates a very dangerous situation. Feeding wild bears increases bear related injuries and attacks. Don’t feed bears! People living near bear territory should

tie down trash can lids or put cans in an inaccessible area. They should also only put out bird seed in winter when bears are hibernating. Black bears, even sows with cubs, are shy and prefer to turn and run away if they have an escape route. Black bears put on a display of social dominance when they meet another bear or a strange person. The display includes a stiff- legged walk, clacking jaws, huffing, squared-off lip, and even bluff charges. These displays look aggressive, but they are not! The human response should be first and foremost-don’t run! Stand your ground, keep eyes on the bear, talk quietly, and make sure the bear has an escape route so it does not feel trapped.

Some signs of black bears in the area are claw mark on trees from climbing, especially on beech trees. Beechnuts are a favorite with black bears. They also create ‘bear nests’ in the tops of trees where they sit to eat. Fur could be stuck on tree bark or in sap from rubbing. Tracks are 5”-7”long with 5 toes on each feet and claw marks are occasionally visible. Overturned rocks or clawed apart logs are signs bears have been looking for insects to eat. Bear scat looks different depending on what the bear ate.

Brown bears- Grizzly sows with cubs are ferocious and will attack to protect their cubs. Bears protecting a food source, such as a buried carcass, are also prone to attack. All brown bears will attack if they are surprised. People hiking in brown bear territory should wear ‘bear bells’, sing, talk loudly, clap and make lots of noise to alert bears to their presence so the bears can hide or escape. Stay at least 100 yards away from a brown bear in the wild if possible. When camping in bear territory, minimize food odors, cook and store food away from the campsite, do not sleep in clothes that were worn to cook or eat, avoid bear travel routes, do not camp on a bear trail, and carry pepper spray. Looking a brown bear in the face communicates aggression. Speak calmly and quietly, look away, crouch down, and back away slowly. If a bear charges, do not turn and run. Stand your ground as the charge could be a bluff. If the bear does attack, drop to the ground, curl up in

a ball, cover back of neck and head with hands, and ‘play dead.'

Polar bears- Habitat loss due to human encroachment is not significant for polar bears because of the harsh climate in which they live. Interactions and thus conflicts between humans and polar bears are very low. Conflicts occur mainly in more populous areas such as towns and research camps. Residents of Churchil, Manitoba, Canada know to take precautions when the bears congregate in and around their town in autumn waiting for the bay ice to freeze. Troublesome bears are often tranquilized and kept in ‘bear jail’ until they can be released in the winter. Some sources say that despite their reputation, polar bears behave similarly to brown bears and will avoid humans if possible. Other sources say that polar bears are actually more curious about humans since they are not hunted as much as other bears, and will come toward people and habited areas to investigate. Young males and sows with cubs are most likely to attack people and attacks are usually fatal unless someone is able to shoot the bear first.

FFaammoouuss bbeeaarrss::

Teddy bears- While the specific details vary between different accounts, Teddy Bears were made famous by United States President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1902, President Roosevelt was bear hunting in the territory between Louisiana and Mississippi. Day after day he hunted with no luck. On the final day, he came upon a small, defenseless bear and he refused to shoot it. The story and a now-famous cartoon drawing were printed in newspapers all over the country. A confectioner, Morris Mitchom of Brooklyn, New York, and his wife created Teddy’s bears in honor of Theodore Roosevelt. The immensely popular stuffed bears gave rise to the Ideal Toy Company.

Winnie-the-Pooh- The most famous teddy bear is undoubtedly Winnie-the-Pooh. A.A. Milne created Winnie-the-Pooh in the 1920’s,

basing his stories about Pooh on his son Christopher Robin and his much-loved teddy bear, Winnie-the-Pooh. The classic illustrations were drawn by Edward Shepard. The stories were popular around the world, and were made even more so when Walt Disney studios released its first Winnie-the-Pooh movie 40 years later. The original toy bear and his friends can be seen at the Donell Library Center in the Central Children’s Room in New York City.

WWrriittiinngg pprroommpptt ffoorr oollddeerr cchhiillddrreenn-Do you have a favorite stuffed animal? Try your hand at writing adventures for your friend just as A.A. Milne did for Winnie-the-Pooh. You could even include yourself in the story.

BBiiooggrraapphhyy:: TThheeooddoorree RRoooosseevveelltt

Theodore Roosevelt, later nick-named Teddy, was born in New York City in 1858. Theodore loved science and nature as a child and collected all sorts of insects, birds, and animals. He also loved reading about cowboys and the West. When Theodore grew up, he graduated from Harvard and became a state legislator. During this time he bought a ranch in North Dakota and became a real cowboy! He was also a civil servant, a police commissioner, an assistant naval secretary, and a war hero. Then he became president of the United States! He still loved science and nature and enjoyed hunting. President Roosevelt refused to shoot a small bear while on a hunting trip and the story inspired the creation of the first Teddy’s bears, or teddy bears. T.R. created many national parks and forests while he was president in order to protect wildlife. After his presidency, Theodore and his son went on an expedition to Africa and explored a river in Brazil. Theodore Roosevelt’s face is carved on Mount Rushmore, along with 3 other great American presidents.

Resources: Don’t You Dare Shoot That Bear! A Story of Theodore Roosevelt by

Robert Quackenbush President Theodore Roosevelt by Sindy McKay Theodore Roosevelt: Bear of a President by Nathan Olson

LLaanngguuaaggee AArrttss EExxtteennssiioonnss::1. Homonyms- words that may sound alike, look alike, or both, but have different meanings. Bear (n)-any of the plantigrade, carnivorous or omnivorous mammals of the family Ursidae, having massive bodies, coarse heavy fur, relatively short limbs, and almost rudimentary tails Bear (v)- to hold up; support: to carry

2. Bible verses using the two homonyms for copy work- “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from this Philistine.” I Samuel 17:37(a)Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac”. Genesis 17:19 (a)

3. Compare and Contrast- Note how three different versions of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ are the same and different using a Venn diagram. Some suggested titles are

The Three Bears by Paul Galdone The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Penelope Lively Goldilocks and the Three Bears by David McPhail

4. Poem for copy work or memorization:

If you ever, ever, ever meet a grizzly bear, You must never, never, never ask him where He is going, Or what he is doing; For if you ever, ever dare

To stop a grizzly bear, You will never meet another grizzly bear. -Mary Austin