Bear Necessities

Students will gain an understanding of bear species native to Canada. They will examine the question “how do humans impact bears?” by exploring bear adaptations, their natural habitats and behaviours, and their diets. Throughout the day they will reflect on the story of the bears under human care here at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo by learning about bear safety and how they can help to protect bears so that they can live in their natural environments.

Grades: Kindergarten to grade 3
Length: 60 minutes
Availability: Mondays, December to February
Capacity: Up to 27 students
Cost: $525 (2 programs) $600 (3 programs)

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Curricular Connections:

Kindergarten

Earth Systems: 

• Demonstrate respect while interacting with environments. 
• Respect a local environment in nature. 
• Discuss the importance of protecting and respecting environments. 
• Identify ways to protect and respect environments. 

Matter/Energy:  

• Observe and imitate how animals can move. 
• Examine the reasons why humans and other animals move. 

Grade 1

Living Systems:  

• Determine how a local environment meets the basic needs of plants and animals. 
• Discuss the movement of local animals from place to place to meet their needs. 

Earth Systems:  

• Discuss how changes in the appearance of environments, plants, and animals are related to the seasons.  
• Investigate animal behaviour throughout the seasons, including migration and hibernation. 
• Identify personal and group actions that demonstrate responsibility and care for nature. 

Matter/Energy: 

• Observe and describe the direction, pathway, and speed of objects or animals. 

Grade 2

Living Systems: 

• Discuss ways to respect plants and animals while interacting in various environments. 
• Explain positive and negative impacts of human behaviour on plants and animals. 
• Discuss how humans might interact with land, plants, and animals if they see land, plants, and animals as equals. 

 Earth Systems: 

• Discuss how various components of Earth interact to support life. 

Grade 3

Living Systems: 

• Classify animals in a food chain as carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores. 
• Investigate and discuss how plants and animals respond to stimuli in their environments in order to survive. 
• Reflect on and share actions that can be taken to protect plants and animals in local environments. 
• Demonstrate respectful and safe practices during observation of plants and animals in local environments. 
• Explain interconnections in environments, including how plants depend on animals and how animals depend on plants to survive. 

Earth Systems: 

• Relate human activities to changes in Earth’s surface. 
• Discuss the interconnectedness between human activities and responsibilities for maintaining Earth. 

Cross-Curricular Connections 

Kindergarten: 

• Participate in group discussions (ELA). 
• Demonstrate a variety of listening behaviours (ELA). 

Grade 1: 

• Contribute to discussions as a listener and speaker (ELA). 
• Share reasons why a local place holds personal meaning or significance (Social Studies). 

Grade 2: 

• Contribute to discussions as a listener and speaker (ELA). 

Grade 3: 

• Use a variety of listening strategies to enhance interactions and learning (ELA). 

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