By: Val Drapeau
Education Coordinator
Materials:
For the picnic:
Picnic tablecloth or blanket
One (or many!) furry bear friends
For the Bear Face Sandwich:
Plate and Cutting Board
Child safe knife
1 slice of regular sandwich bread
3 banana slices
3 blueberries
Peanut butter or alternative spread like SunButter (for children with a peanut/tree nut allergy)
For the Bear Ears:
1 sheet of white cardstock (preferred) or white copy paper
Ruler
Pencil
Black marker
Brown and pink crayons
Stapler or tape
Length:
Set-up:
Bear Face Sandwich – 5 minutes
Bear Ears – 10 minutes
Activity:
Picnic – Endless fun with your child(ren)!
Academic Subject(s):
Cooking and Art
This Sanity Saver additionally supports the fine motor skills of cutting with scissors and line drawing.
The weather is finally getting nicer, so who is ready for an outside picnic? This activity can take place with your child(ren) in your favorite outdoor or indoor spot. A healthy snack and some bear ears will help transport your child’s imagination for some endless fun! Grab your favorite furry friend and a blanket to set the stage for a delightful afternoon!
Directions:
Bear Face Sandwich
Step 1: Place one piece of sandwich sized bread on a plate. Have child use a butter knife to spread peanut butter (or alternative spread) onto the bread.
Step 2: On a separate cutting board, have child cut three slices of the banana with a child safe knife. Arrange two of the banana slices at the top of the bread as the ears, and one an inch up from the bottom as the nose.
Step 3: Have child rinse 3 blueberries and arrange two as the eyes underneath the banana slices, closer to the middle of the bread. Place one blueberry on top of the third banana slice at the bottom of the bread to finish the nose.
Step 4: Enjoy your tasty snack!
Bear Ears
Step 1: Take your piece of white paper and turn it vertically.
Step 2: With a pencil and ruler, have your child make a line from the top of the page to the bottom, approximately two inches from the edge. Make another line just like the first, two inches from the first drawn line.
Step 3: Have your child cut out the two paper strips with child safe scissors. You should now have two long strips each about 2 inches wide.
Step 4: Take the remaining piece of white paper and turn it horizontally. Draw two large rainbow shapes side by side with the black marker (with a little space in between). Draw a smaller rainbow shape inside each larger rainbow about an inch from the line. Color the smaller rainbow pink (the inside of the ear), and the remaining part up to the larger rainbow line brown. Color the other two white strips brown as well.
Step 5: Have child cut out both “ears” on the page.
Step 6: Staple the two long brown pieces together, edge to edge. Measure the remaining amount around your child’s head and staple it together for a proper fit forming a crown of sorts. Finally, staple (or tape) the bottom of the bear ears side by side in the middle of the crown. Your bear ears are now complete!
Teddy Bear Picnics can include many ways to play…march with your furry friends around the picnic blanket while singing the “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around” song (see below). Pull out some play food, plates and cups to have your bear friends participate tea party style. You could read a book about the Berenstain Bears or any book that has to do with our bear friends. The possibilities are endless!
“Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around” Song
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach up high,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the sky,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, bend down low,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your toes,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, go to bed,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, rest your head,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn out the lights,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say “good night”.
Vocabulary Words
Picnic – an outing or occasion that involves taking a packed meal to be eaten outdoors
Vertical – at right angles to a horizontal plane; aligned in such a way that the top is directly above the bottom
Horizontal – parallel to the plane of the horizon; at right angles to the vertical
