Characters in "The Three Bears" display a range of facial expressions throughout the tale. In this activity, the instructor asks kids to turn the pages of "The Three Bears" storybook and identify certain expressions. Expressions may include angry, bored, happy, sad, sleepy and surprised. Once kids find the expression, the instructor asks them to recall instances that they felt the same way as the character and how they resolved feelings such as boredom, confusion or sadness. As a variation, the instructor either draws character faces of the story's four characters -- with each depicting a different expression -- or prints out character faces from an online source. After looking at each character expression. children imitate and name the expression.
Size matters in "The Three Bears," with items such as bowls and chairs coming in different sizes for Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear. In this activity, children practice grouping items of like sizes together. After gathering items such as baskets, cubes, doll furniture, paper clips, paper plates, screws and trays, the instructor labels three trays as "small things," "medium-sized things" and "large things." Children compare sizes of all items and then place the items on the appropriate trays. Upon finishing the sorting, children discuss items mentioned in "The Three Bears" and classify them according to size.
Children retell the story of "The Three Bears" with finger puppets or as a dramatic play in this activity. Using finger puppets that the instructor either makes or prints out from an online source, kids divide into groups of four and take turns retelling the story. As a variation, kids take turns telling the story solely from their character's point of view. Children also may stage a play to tell the story of "The Three Bears." Costumes may include brown turtleneck shirts and black noses for the bears, a bib for Baby Bear, a tie for Papa Bear, and a dress and blond wig (if necessary) for Goldilocks. Props should include a table and three each of the following items in varying sizes: bowls, spoons, chairs and sleeping bags. As the instructor narrates the story, kids take turns acting out the story in groups of four.
Sequencing cards challenge children to tell the story of "The Three Bears" in chronological order. The instructor either draws scenes depicted in the story and makes copies, or prints them out from an online source. Kids divide into small groups and pick up one scene card at a time, proceeding to describe the scene to their fellow group members. Each group tries to put the cards in the order in which they occur in the story. As a variation, kids work with text sequencing cards and must put them in chronological order.