Eat Like a Bear - Seasonal Food Availability

Eat Like a Bear by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

While the book is being read, students can fill in the graphic organizer showing how a bear’s diet changes over the seasons. 

1. On the page “Drink like a bear… “ ask students where the bear finds water.  Ask students if there are any trout shown. Emphasize that there are also no berries on the bushes. 
2. On the page “Search the melting snows...” ask students how snow can affect the amount of water the bear has available.  Students should also recognize that the snow could hide food from animals.
3. On the page “Can you prepare...” ask students to describe how the bear makes a den. Ask the students what the bear eats in November. Point out that the bear does not eat during the winter months.  During spring and summer the bear eats as much food as possible to build up fat.  The bear uses the fat to help them survive the winter.
4. After reading the book, look at the types of food the bear eats over the year. Students should notice that the bear eats plants and animals (meat).  While some students may recognize the terms carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore, the emphasis at this grade level is that living things have needs (food, water, shelter) and that those needs are met by using resources found in their environment.
5. The last page “Meet the Bears” has additional information about seasonal food availability, hibernation, and food types.

 
Teachers can ask students to predict how they think the food, water and shelter available to the bear might change over the year. As the book is read, students draw or write on the graphic organizer what the bear eats during the year.