The Bear Project

The students in Classroom #2 are studying animals. During the mammals segment of this science unit, the students selected bears as their focus. Earlier this fall, the students read a book called The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward. It is a story about a boy who finds an orphaned baby bear, takes him home, and keeps him as a pet. The bear grows too large to be kept as a pet, and the boy has to decide what to do.

This art project involved several steps. First the students decided what features their bear would have, and what expression it would have on its face. Buttons were sewn on the fabric to make the faces. Next, the two pieces of fabric were sewn together with a sewing machine operated by each student pressing the peddle of the sewing machine with either a hand or a foot. Then we discussed fur, and figured out that the bears needed to be turned right side out so that the fur would be on the outside. The students stuffed the bears, and we talked about how animals have their fur on the outside and internal organs on the inside. Finally, the students wrote about their bears.

George holding his finished bear.

Jake holding his bear.

Katie loving her bear.

Lueza and her bear.