Experience Early Learning’s Winter in the Woods Preschool theme includes learning about animals in the woods. We learned about bears and B is for Bear Den.

B is for Bear Den

I love that the Invitations to Create from Experience Early Learning often include using nature items. For this project, we used silk leaves and sticks from the yard.

We also used pinecones for trees. The photos of bears were included for us to use in our bear dens and to play with.

Look at this beautiful picture of a big bear by its den. What a great inspiration photo. It makes us wonder, how did he make the den?

The cards included with our Invitation to Create provides some background knowledge and makes for nice commentary next to a display.

B is for Bear Den

We’ve made bear dens before so I found a piece of cardboard for our base. I think that makes it easier for kids to have something to glue their materials to.

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Some choose to color their dens with a marker. Others just wanted to get down to the business of gluing! I did help glue the den to the cardboard and the pinecones on with a glue gun.

It makes for a more successful experience when we use the materials that work. Regular glue would work too, but it takes longer to dry.

I worked with each child individually and helped them glue on the materials that needed the glue gun. They told me where they wanted a stick or the pinecone and we glued it on.

Our bear dens engaged the imagination and turned out beautiful as well.

It really does look like a bear den in the woods, a place where a bear might want to rest for the long winter.

The kids were proud to take them home.

Writing Letter B

During group time we worked on letter B. To get their attention at circle time, I drew a bear and a bell and wrote: B is for Bear and b is for bell. First we circled the letter Bb. Then everyone took turns writing uppercase and lowercase letter B.

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They seem to be more interested in writing at circle time when they take turns at the dry erase board. We can spend a lot of time writing and they are patient to wait for their turn!

I Spy Letter B

Our letter B work continued with the I Spy Letter B page and letter cards.

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Most in my group just want to color the whole page but we review it together first. Then they color the page as desired. They are toddlers and preschoolers – they want to color!

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I try to go around and work with each child individually so I know where they are at in letter recognition. Sometimes we do the page together at group time so everyone gets the benefit of learning from the more advanced learners.

Letter B Loose Letter Parts

Loose letter parts are like puzzle pieces. Again, my group seems to be more interested in working on these during group time when they have to wait their turn. Then they say, “I’m next!” and look forward to making their letters.

That’s all for B is for Bear Dens. We learned a lot and had fun too. That’s why we love Experience Early Learning preschool curriculum!

More Winter in the Woods Activities

• Winter in the Woods: What’s in the Box?
• Pokey Like a Hedgehog
• Winter in the Woods Small World Play
• Mittens
• Winter in the Woods Dioramas