Social Science - Bears on the Map

You will need:

• A world map
• Push pins
• Small pictures of several types of bears

What to do:

• To supplement the diversity activity "Different Houses for Different Bears", explain that different bears come from different countries in the world.
• Use a globe or giant world map to identify different countries and regions where different types of bears live. Place push pins in those areas on the map or globe.
• Attach a small picture of each bear in the region or country of its origin.

Open-ended Questions:

• Why do you think different bears live in different countries?
• In what country do you think Goldilocks and the three Bears lived? Why?
• From what part of the world do your parents come?
• Have you ever visited any of these regions?

Variations/Extensions:

• Pin each child's name in the part of the world from which his parents or ancestors came from. Ask them what bear is nearest to that region.
• Slowly introduce other animals' habitats onto the giant world map (e.g. birds, fish, etc.).

Related Resources:

• National Geographic's Map Machine will allow you to locate where different bears live.

Suggested Benchmarks:

• Locating objects and places in familiar environments.
• Expressing introductory geographic thinking.