We are using our kindergarten “bear paws” to scratch beneath the surface of our learning. Our young minds are growing and expanding as we embark on this non-fiction study of the American black bear.

Here is the framework of our winter expedition:

Title: The Strength of a Bear

Guiding Questions:

  • What makes a bear a bear?
  • How does strength help us learn and grow?

Case Study #1: The Bear Necessities

Learning Targets:

  • I can explain how the physical features of a black bear help it survive.
  • I can evaluate the conditions a black bear needs to survive.

Case Study #2: More Than a Bear

Learning Targets:

  • I can illustrate why bears are an important symbol of our school.

 

We are currently learning about the physical features of a black bear and how each part of its body serves a particular function. A black bear “research center” housed in our loft allows our young scientists to explore a variety of bear artifacts–a skull replica, claw and paw replicas, actual bear pelts,  dehydrated bear scat, posters and more from the North American Bear Center in Ely, MN.

Our friends in the McMains Crew (6th grade) came and helped us participate in our first jigsaw protocol. Each mixed-age group was responsible for researching the answer to a bear question (Ex., What do black bears look like?) and preparing a creative presentation to teach the rest  of the group. We had groups sing chants, explain homemade posters, and even dramatize bear cubs climbing up tree trunks to safety. It was a day filled with learning!

These young writers are busy learning about the differences between fiction and non-fiction texts. They worked in small groups to sort our classroom bear books according to “storybooks” or “teaching books” (fiction or non-fiction). We are now closely studying the characteristics of non-fiction texts (actual photographs, index, captions, diagrams, charts) and learning to use those features in our own writing. The kindergartners are at the beginning phases of creating their own “teaching book” on bears–complete with text features we have learned about. It is amazing to witness their dedication to the project and the amazing writing stamina they have developed since early fall.

Activities to look forward to:

  • studying bear behavior on a fieldwork excursion to a nearby zoo
  • walking under the full Bear Moon at night (!) to learn about what local black bears do during these winter months

Kindergarten is an exciting place to be! Come on in and visit!