Big Smelly Bear Video Read-Aloud

I filmed a video reading of Big Smelly Bear for you to share with your students in the event that you cannot access a copy. You can play the video for your students in class! For distance learning, share the video link with them directly or in any virtual classroom setting.

Your children or students will love watching the story come to life, in addition to completing several of the following thematic activities! 

Big Smelly Bear Activities

Since I used these at home with my own children (preschoolers), most of these activities are geared toward the 6-and-under crowd. However, there are a few things you could use in first and second grade.

Bear Directed Drawing and Artwork

This book and character are the perfect subjects for drawing to strengthen finger grip and the ability to follow directions!

Supplies You’ll Need for this Activity:

Drawing paper

Pencil

Crayons

Black marker or black Sharpie

Ink pad (black) or washable black maker

Scissors

Directions:

The first day we read this story, I had my little ones color in the big smelly bear coloring page and then we made fingerprint flies buzzing all around him.

If you don’t have an inkpad on hand, do what we did and use washable black marker to coat your pointer finger. Apply pressure to the paper and add a few loops for wings! They turned out pretty cute!

I also did a step-by-step directed drawing of a bear. This is a VERY easy drawing, and is simple enough for beginner drawers to try.

After I traced their drawings in thick, black marker, they cut them out (fine motor work!). SO proud! Benny decided a tie-dye bear would be a good choice since it is all the rage right now. I definitely approve.

Uppercase and Lowercase Matching

You can practice upper- and lowercase matching any way you like, but it’s always fun to throw in some thematic alphabet cards, if you ask me.

For this activity, you’ll need a printed set of the bear alphabet cards and scissors or a paper cutter to separate them.

First, I had them identify and name the upper- and lowercase letters. Then, I laid out the uppercase alphabet in order and they helped match the lowercase letters.

Bear-Shaped Cookies

I’m all about incorporating baking into our homeschool activities! I used a generic oatmeal cookie recipe to create the dough, and then modeled how to create the bear. They followed suit and created their own bear-shaped cookies.

Surprisingly, they turned out tasty and cute! And, I had more than my fair share of dough and warm cookies after.

Ordering Objects Small to Large

Because the Big Smelly Bear tried to scratch his itch unsuccessfully himself, he eventually resorted to using the trunk of a tree to try to do the trick. So, what did we do as a spin-off? We went bark collecting! I though this was a great opportunity to practice sorting by size.

I sent them into our yard (which backs up to woods), and they collected a big ol’ box of tree bark. Your students could simply collect sticks if bark isn’t available. 

Big brother helped them organize it from small to large, and even used the Adidas logo to illustrate! (I thought that was pretty dang clever!) It was a fun way to get outside, move around, and practice a skill. 

Bear Ten Frame Activity

This is a super simple bear-themed activity to practice counting out quantities and filling a ten frame.

Supplies You’ll Need for this Activity:

Drawing paper

Pencil

Crayons

Black marker or black Sharpie

Ink pad (black) or washable black maker

Scissors

Directions:

 First, we sorted all of our bear counters by color.

Then, using the spinner from this post, the kids took turns spinning and counting out the correct quantity of bears.

I usually give them a set number of times that we’ll be filling the frame, so they don’t think this activity is going to last forever 😉

Matching Numbers to Quantities

For this activity, you’ll need printed copies of the bear number flashcards (with numerals and with the ten frames).

This is another ten frame activity, though it uses flashcards instead. We created a number line from 0-10 and then counted the dots in the frame. Next, we matched the numbers to quantities.

Roll and Count Bear Game

There are so many great math opportunities that can be paired with Big Smelly Bear! Like this roll-and-color bear game.

Supplies You’ll Need for this Activity:

Printed copies of the bear roll & color activity page

One die

Crayons

Directions:

Before playing this game, I had each kiddo color in the bears at the bottom of the graph so that they would know which color word went with the color.

Then, they took turns rolling the die and racing to be the first to have an entire column colored in. If you are a pre-k or kindergarten teacher, this is a GREAT game for teaching color identification and recognition, counting, and following directions. They will have to sustain their attention for at least ten minutes while they fill the column, so it’s a good beginner game to introduce (I’m thinking beginning of the year center work!).

Bears and Not Bears

This is a simple sorting task that requires some higher level thinking skills, too! 

Supplies You’ll Need:

Printed copies of the bear & not bear activity pages

Printed copies of the description cards

Scissors or paper cutter

Directions:

I printed out BEARS and NOT BEARS pages, along with pre-cut descriptions. Then, I read each word and we decided whether or not it could be used to describe a bear or not. To take it a step further, we talked about other animals that would fit the feature instead.

Simple Bear Puzzle

My kids LOVE these simple strip puzzles, and they’ve actually improved so much in assembling them. 

Supplies You’ll Need for this Activity:

Printed copies of the bear puzzle template

Scissors or paper cutter

Directions:

I print out a grey-scale template and then they have to manipulate pre-cut pieces (or they can cut them out themselves) to put together the picture.

You can find more of these FREE simple puzzles by clicking HERE!

Other Free Lessons

I have several FREE activity packs based off of some of my favorite picture books. They all include a video read-aloud, plus several ways you can use the story in your classroom or home.

You can click any of the links below to check them out! They’re perfect if, say, you need a break from teaching for a bit! I’ll step in and do it for you…virtually!

Potato Pants ELA Lesson

The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors ELA Lesson

The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick ELA Lesson

Don’t Blink! Activities

Free Activities For The Book, Rhyming Dust Bunnies

The Very Very Very Long Dog Activities

Eraser Activities

Download FREE activities

*****PLEASE READ*******

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Big Smelly Bear Activities Day One

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I hope you enjoyed the Big Smelly Bear video read-aloud and activities to use alongside the book! If you use in your classroom or home, please tag me on Instagram @babblingabby!