Lesson Plan - How to Save a Bear Cub

Watch the Video
Build background knowledge by watching the video “What You Need to Know About Bears.” Discuss: How many of these eight bear species have you heard of? Which of the species would you like to learn more about? Explain. 

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• rehabilitate
• enclosure

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about why the bear cub could not survive on its own.

1. What steps did caretakers take to act like bears when caring for Baby Bear?
To act like bears when caring for Baby Bear, caretakers wore bear masks, fur coats, and leather gloves. They grunted and made bear noises. The article explains that they also “stored their disguises in bins with bear poop and hay that other bears had slept on.”
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2. What is an enclosure? Based on the article, what was the purpose of Baby Bear’s enclosure?
An enclosure is an area that is closed in by walls or fences. Based on the article, you can tell that the purpose of Baby Bear’s enclosure was to give him a temporary home and keep him in a safe spot where caregivers could help him.
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3. What is one adjective you might use to describe a black bear’s diet? Explain your choice, using details from the article.
Sample response: An adjective you might use to describe a black bear’s diet is varied. According to the article, black bears eat both plants and meat. The article explains that they dine on “everything from berries and roots to deer and elk.”
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Featured Skill: Reading a Diagram
Use the skill builder “A Bear’s Life” to explore the life cycle of a black bear. Discuss: What similarities do you see between a bear’s life and a human’s life?
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