Bears Are Curious written by Joyce Milton Illustrated by Christopher Santoro Cyberlesson created by Jessica Malatesta Click on the bear to learn how bears get ready for hibernation and to learn facts about bears.

Introduction Do you know how bears get ready for hibernation? In the nonfiction book, Bears Are Curious you will find out how bears get prepared for winter. In this book you will also learn facts about bears. You will learn why some bears hibernate and its purpose. Are you ready?

Resources and Materials Before you begin, you will need: A copy of Bears Are Curious A pencil Sticky Notes Crayons Writer’s Notebook K-W-L Chart Computer with Internet access ~ Everything else is provided through the lesson.

Before Reading Before you begin reading Bears Are Curious click here to watch a movie about why animals hibernate in the winter. Before you begin reading Bears Are Curious click here to watch a movie about why animals hibernate in the winter. If you are curious about hibernation, click on the animals below to learn more facts about how animals survive in the winter. If you are curious about hibernation, click on the animals below to learn more facts about how animals survive in the winter.

Before Reading In this story the author asks an important question: “Why are the bears so hungry?” Why do you think bears are so hungry? Write your thoughts in your writer’s notebook. Watch the video on the bear preparing for hibernation. Write down events that occurred in the movie that you think might also be discussed in the story. Click here to view the video.Click here In this book you will also learn facts about bears. Please complete the KNOW and WANT to know sections on your K-W-L chart. Now go ahead and take a picture walk with your partner. Talk about what you notice.

During Reading Read the story in your head and keep track of the events in the story. Also, use your sticky notes to tab pages where you learned a new or interesting fact. Remember a fact is something true. Here is a picture of a bear hibernating in his den.

After Reading What do you think is the most important thing you learned from reading this book? Now complete the LEARN section of your K-W-L chart. Then RETELL the story to your partner. It looks like the bear has woken up from his long winter’s nap. What will the bear do next?

Beyond Reading Choose one of the following activities: Listen to the Ballad of the Wild Bear, then write a journal entry in a bears’ viewpoint. Tell about your day. Make sure you use facts from the story and tell what season it is. Watch live webcasts of a bear and a video, then draw what a typical bears’ environment looks like. Label your illustration. CLICK HERE to view webcast. CLICK HERE to watch the video.CLICK HERE

Beyond Reading Continued Visit brainpopjr.com and explore the game section on hibernation. Click on the squirrel to check your knowledge.

Rubric Activity321 K-W-L ChartStudent wrote at least two things for each section of the chart. Student wrote at least one thing for each section of the chart. Student did not complete each section of the chart. RetellStudent retold the story to a partner and included all the events. Student retold the story to a partner and included some of the events. Student retold some of the story and only one event. Journal EntryStudent used at least two facts from the story and song to write a journal entry. Student used at least one fact from the story and song to write a journal entry. Student did not use any facts from the story or song to write a journal entry. Illustration of SettingStudent used webcam images and facts from the story to create a picture of a bears’ environment. Student labeled his/her illustration. Student used webcam images and facts from the story to create a picture of a bears’ environment. Student did not label his/her illustration. Students did not use webcam images or facts from the story to create a picture of a bears’ environment. Student did not label his/her illustration. _______________ out of a total 9 points

Credits Books: Bears are Curious by Joyce Milton Ballad of the Wild Bear by Pay Chamberlin-Calamar and Sandy Kogl (read along and sing along) Websites: D08779DDE&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US Pictures: hyacinths.wordpress.com/

Teacher’s Page Before the cyber lesson, students should have some background knowledge about hibernation and its purpose. This cyberlesson is intended to take place in the beginning of the unit. Students will have an good understanding that not all animals hibernate, however, they may have some incorrect information. This cyber lesson, as well as the accompanying unit will clarify any misunderstandings students may have at this time. One misconception students may have is that bears are “true” hibernators, which in fact, Bears are not "true" hibernators. They are one of the "light sleepers."Bears Students reading at a level 15 and above will be able to complete this cyber lesson independently, while students reading below a level 16 can complete this with a partner or in a whole group, with teacher narrating.