Social Studies

Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Jan Brett
ISBN: 0899193137
Summary: Mrs. Bear has a surprise in store for Mr. Bear. She's gotten up during hibernation just so they can celebrate a special Valentine's Day. Her preparations show the love she has for Mr. Bear. Mr. Bear, as it turns out, has some surprises of his own. Together they share a special day before once again settling down for a long sleep.

Just for Fun
Glue an envelope in your lapbook. Decorate and let your student store her Valentine cards in it.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Holidays- Valentine's Day
There are different legends surrounding this holiday, so the exact origin is unknown.

"One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France." Source

Valentine's Day was "imported" to the United States by British settlers in the 19th century. Esther Howard was the first to mass-produce a Valentine's card (complete with embossed paper lace) around 1850. Later (in the second half of the 20th century), the practice of men giving their sweethearts cards, roses, and chocolate became popular.

Valentine's Day Traditions Around the World -- read and learn about Valentine's Day Traditions from Canada, Australia, Britain, Japan, and many other places!

Valentine's Day Project Pack from Hands of a Child

BIBLE

Memory Verses
Discuss how Mr. and Mrs. Bear showed their love for one another. Discuss ways your student can show love for his family (grandparents, siblings, etc.) and friends.
I John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

Rhyming Words
Mrs. Bear writes some simple poems for Mr. Bear. Can you student pick out the rhyming words? (blue/too; fine/valentine) Can you and your student think of other words that rhyme with these? (blue/too/zoo/two/Sue/kazoo/you) You may even want to make a list and see how many words you can think of that rhyme. If you student enjoys this activity, be sure to check out http://www.rhymezone.com/

Poetry Writing
You may want to read some poetry with your child and discuss what makes a poem different from a story (the use of lines, plot is unnecessary, sound is very important as is word choice, etc.)

Mrs. Bear wrote some simple rhymes for Mr. Bear. Encourage your student to write an original poem. If he has a hard time getting started, you may want to try a form poem--

Mrs. Bear's "Red berries are red..." poem is based off the traditional and ever-popular

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you.

Your student can use this format to create his own poem.

First line-- (object) is/are (color)
Second line-- (object) is/are (color)
Third line-- (object) is/are (adjective)
Fourth line-- just make sure the last word rhymes with the color word in the second line

Also, you may want to point out to your student that in the "Roses are red" poem that each line has four syllables. If your student understands what syllables are, encourage him to try to stay consistent with the syllables after the first line is written (so, if he writes a first line with six syllables, he should try write other lines with six syllables as well for this exercise)

Just as a side note about the "Roses are red..." poem that I found interesting--
Most believe that the original source of the poem were the following lines written in 1590 by Sir Edmund Spenser for his epic The Faerie Queene:
She bathed with roses red,
And violets blue
And all the sweetest flowers
That in the forest grew.

Read more at Wikipedia

Vocabulary Words
Prepared Vocabulary Puzzle
admired- to have high regard for
fooled- to trick someone
lovely- gracefully or delicately attractive
muttered- to speak softly and unclearly
muzzle- the nose and jaws of an animal
pried- to force out, detach, or open with difficulty
sleeked- to make smooth and glossy

Vocabulary Words: Synonyms
Synonyms are words with similar or identical meanings that could be used interchangeably. Try using the following synonyms interchangeably in the story:

admired- appreciated
fooled- tricked
lovely- beautiful
muttered- grumbled
pried- forced
sleeked- smoothed

Knowing what a synonym is, see if your child can come up with their own synonyms for these words also found in the story (some suggestions appear in parenthesis)

Snug (cozy)
Remembered (recalled)
Glad (happy)
Smiled (grinned)
Crispy (crunchy)
Begged (pleaded)
Safe (secure)

Listmaking & Comprehension
List all the ways Mrs. Bear prepared for Valentine's Day for Mr. Bear. After you finish, list all the ways your family plans to prepare for Valentine's Day.

Listmaking- Holidays in Season
Mrs. Bear says, "Brr! You'd think they'd put this special day in summer." What holidays are in the summer? Which ones are in spring? fall? Make a chart with your student listing the four seasons and which holidays are in each season. You can keep this simple for your younger student using well known holidays (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc.) while making it challenging for your older student (possibly even sending him a-re-searching for some answers).

Critical Thinking/Discussion Questions
1. Why was the deer surprised to see Mrs. Bear?
2. Why did Mrs. Bear have honey put away?
3. What was Mrs. Bear going to do with the ice cold water?

ART

Use of Color (note: I stole this lesson from my St. Patrick's Day in the Morning unit!)
After reading the book (a few times), ask your student what colors are used? Why does your student think Jan Brett primary chose these colors for this story? What was she trying to accomplish with her use of color? (emphasis of certain objects). Where would your student have chosen to use color if he was drawing the same pictures? Your student may want to try drawing a picture for Valentine's Day and using only red/yellow for emphasis on certain objects making careful, deliberate choices like artists do.

See Craft Ideas in Just for Fun Section

APPLIED MATH

Story Problems
1. Mrs. Bear sets her alarm clock for four months. How many days are in four months? Estimate 30 days per month and let your student add or multiply to find the answer (30+30+30+30=) or (30x4=)
2. Mr. Bear asks Mrs. Bear to let him sleep "just another five weeks"-- how many days are in five weeks? Again, allow your student to add or multiply to find the answer.

Counting
With your younger student, count the hearts throughout the book.

SCIENCE

Animals in Winter
During the winter, bears retreat to their dens (or caves) and go to sleep for a long time (some sleep for up to six months!) surviving on stored body fat.   A bear can be aroused from sleep just like Mr. and Mrs. Bear were. Because they can wake up, they are not considered a hibernating animal even though their heart rate, breathing, and body temperature slow down or drop.

More about Hibernation at Enchanted Learning

Go along book- Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft

Your older student may want to make an Animals in Winter book.   Have her list ten or more animals and then send her to work in encyclopedias, on the computer, or ? to find out what each one does during the cold winter months. She could draw illustrations or find (google images, perhaps?) clip art for her book.

Insects
Mrs. Bear gets some "Crispy Critters" ready for Mr. Bear, and Mr. Bear gives Mrs. Bear some chocolate-covered ants as a Valentine's Day treat! Review the characteristics of insects with your students (three body parts including head, thorax, and abdomen; six legs; antennae, etc.).

Make some "chocolate covered ants" for your students to eat as a treat this week!   You can learn as you make your snack!

Chocolate-Covered "Ant" Recipe
Dip three large marshmallows in melted chocolate. Attach end-by-end to form the head, thorax, and abdomen. Place on a sheet of wax paper. Insert small pieces of black shoestring licorice into sides of ant for legs and 2 pieces in front of ant for antennae. Let stand about 1 hour (or until it is set). Enjoy!

Insect Book at Enchanted Learning

Ant Worksheet at Enchanted Learning

Ant Lifecycle Sequencing Cards

JUST FOR FUN

Needlework
At the end of the book the illustration is outlined with a heart done in needlework. Your student may want to try a simple cross-stitch pattern or some other type of needlework.

Crafts
Make a Valentine Poster
Make Valentines! Punch holes and lace ribbon through some if you like (just like Mrs. Bear did on her red heart Valentine!).
Find more Valentine crafts at Family Fun

Materials and information on this website belong to the original composers. It may be used for your own personal and school use.