Take the kids on a bear hunt

[IMAGE1Can your child spot the bear? Image source: pixabay.com]

This is a well known book and fantastic group activity. With singing, movement and repetition. All the lyrics and suggested actions to go with it are listed below. It's easy to learn and will be passed down through the generations.

Ages: Any.

Indoor or Outdoor: Outdoors is perfect, it's best to have a safe open place.

Equipment/Resources: Open space, teddy bears, your voice, your body.

Cost: Free!



Instructions:

The best way to do this activity is to say a sentence then have the child/ren repeat it straight after you. Do this throughout the whole song for each sentence. It sounds amazing, is so fun and keeps them interested and involved. They will love it!


Lyrics are listed below and suggested actions are in brackets.

Chorus
(Start jogging on the spot whilst swinging your arms from side to side)
We're going on a bear hunt ,We're going on a bear hunt.
(Stretch both arms out as far as they can go) Going to catch a big one, going to catch a big one.
(Shake head from side to side) I'm not scared, I'm not scared.
(Point and look upwards to the sky) What a beautiful day, what a beautiful day!



Verse 1
(Put both hands onto the sides of your head) Uh-oh grass! Uh-oh grass! (Pretend to point to the grass) Long green grass, long green grass.
(Imitate going over it)Well we can't go over it, we can't go over it. (Imitate going under it). we can't go under it, we can't go under it.
(Put both hands on hips with elbows sticking out) We'll have to go through it.
(Pretend to be walking through soMe long grass) Swish swish, swish swish,
Swish swish, swish swish

Chorus

Verse 2
(Put both hands on the sides of your head) Uh-oh a river! Uh-oh a river! (Pretend to point at the river) A cold dark river. A cold dark river.
(Imitate going over it)Well we can't go over it. (Imitate going under it) we can't go under it.
(Put both hands on your hips) We will have to go through it.
(Pretend you are swimming) Splish splash, splish splash.
Splish splash, splish splash.

Chorus

Verse 3
(Put both hands on the sides of your head.) Uh-Oh, mud! Gooey, icky mud.(pretend you are pointing at the mud.)
Well we can't go over it( imitate going over), we can't go under it. (Imitate going under it)
We will have to go through it.
Squelch, squelch, squelch, squelch x2



Chorus


Verse 4
(Put both your hands at the sides of your head) Uh-oh a forest! A tall, dark forest.(Pretend to point at the forest)
Well we can't go over it and we can't go under it. (Imitate going over and under)
We will have to go through it.
Stumble trip, stumble trip.
Stumble trip, stumble trip.



Chorus

Verse 5
(Put both hands on either side of your head) Uh-oh a snow storm! A cold, cold snow storm. (Pretend you are freezing)
Will we can't go over it and we can't go under it. (Imitate going over and under)
We have to go through it.
Burrrrr, burrrrrrrr,
Burrrrr, burrrrrrrr.


Chorus


Verse 6
(Put both hands up on each side of your head) Uh-oh a cave! A tiny little cave. (Use your fingers to show a tiny cave)
Will we can't go over it and we can't go under it. (Imitate under and over)
We will have to go through it.
Tip toe, tip toe
Tip toe, tip toe

(Put both hands up on each side of your head)Uh-Oh, what’s that?
It has two big fuzzy ears
Two big googly eyes
One big mouth...
Ahhhhhhhhhh! (Scream this)
It's a BEARRRRRR!



(Actions for this part are self explanatory)
Quick, back through the cave
Tip toe, tip toe, tip toe, tip toe
Back through the snow storm
Burrr, burrr, burrr, burrr
Back through the forest
Stumble trip, stumble trip, stumble trip, stumble trip
Back through the icky mud
Squelch, squelch, squelch, squelch
Back through the river
Splish splash, splish splash, splish splash, splish splash
Back through the swishy grass.
Swish swish, swish swish, swish swish, swish swish
Run to the front door... (tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap)
Open up the front door, argh!
Run inside!
OH WAIT!
We forgot to shut the door.
Back to the door!
Shut the door, bang!
Lock it, clink
Back inside.
Run up the stairs,
Another flight of stairs, another flight of stairs
(Breathe heavy)
Another flight of stars
Jump in the bed
Pull up the covers
And WOOHOOOSH!
WHOOO, we made it!





Aim: To combine singing and movement into a fun group activity even with children of different ages and abilities.

Time: This activity does take a while so keep it for a day when you won't need to rush.

Players: The more, the better.

Why?: Bears are popular, it's fun, frugal and has all elements that are destined to make it popular for any age. Sing, dance and do the actions to act out the story and as a bonding exercise.

Additions:

1) Add teddy bears to the experience. Hide them throughout the garden.
2) The kids could dress up for the adventure with hats, backpacks, boots etc.
3) Add binoculars to the experience. If you don't have any make your own using cardboard tubes.

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