Introduce activities to teach children more about bears. Read non-fiction books about bears or do research on the Internet to find out where bears live, what they eat and how they raise their young. Learn to identify different types of bears with flash cards or animal fact sheets. A trip to the zoo to see live bears in action can be an exciting activity for kids. If that's not possible, show them a nature video about bears or go to a museum where they can see bear fossils. Discuss words that apply to bears, such as mammals, omnivorous, solitary and territorial. Have kids make bear posters to display what they've learned about bears.
The story mentions going through different types of terrain. Depending on the version, it takes you through a river, tall grass, over mountains, through a blizzard or into a bear's den. Any of these locations can springboard into learning about different habitats. Make a diorama depicting a habitat and the kinds of animals that live in it. You also can focus on bear habitats. Bears are found in many different habitats: Polar bears live in the icy Northern territories, brown bears live in the sub-tropics of Florida, and giant pandas dwell in the mountains of China. Research the habitats of different bears and rewrite the story together so it reflects the kinds of things found in those habitats.
The story touches on the senses as children imagine going through different terrains. In "Going on a Bear Hunt," children imitate swimming across water bodies, rustling through leaves and trees, climbing over rocks and crawling through caves. Read the story, then introduce a discussion revolving around the senses. For example, explore the sense of sound. Ask what a flowing stream sounds like or what grass blowing in the wind sounds like. Consider how rocks and mountains feel different from swamps and grassy fields. Take the kids out on a nature hike to explore the world around them with their senses. Make a "five senses" chart and list the descriptions the children give of what they experienced on their nature walk, or believe they would experience on a bear hunt.
Sadly, there are six bears on the endangered species list. Look into the effects that deforestation and global warming are having on bears. Have kids research and make news reports about bears. Consider the future and the impact it will have on bears if changes are not made. Don't end your environmental activities on a sad note. Finish by offering a glimmer of hope. Explore environmental activist websites such as Save the Bears or World Wildlife Fund to see what people are doing to help bears. Hold a bear fundraiser selling teddy bears or bear claw pastries. Use the money you raise to "adopt" a bear through an environmental agency.