Hibernating Bear Paper Bag Craft

Yesterday, was one those days, when I just wanted to curl up in a quiet corner, with a cup of coffee, and some simple project to keep my hands busy, while my mind wandered. There is a small window each day, during the children's nap/reading time when I have a few minutes of silence, completely to myself. I seized it, yesterday afternoon, to try out a knitting pattern for a tiny bear from Little Cotton Rabbits Free Patterns.

Although, my little bear did not turn out even half as cute as the one pictured with the pattern (I tried a face, but ended up removing it because it was so hideous), the little one's adored it. And, for a bonus, it fit perfectly with a hibernation craft, I'd found in Crafts to Make in the Fall, by Kathy Ross. So, last night, as the kids ate their before bed snack, the youngest two helped me prepare a bedroom for bear.

We started by shortening a lunch sized paper bag.

Then, we cut an arched shaped den door, a little taller than we wanted it to end up, down from the top of one side.

We folded the top of the bag once, and stapled it. Then we puffed out the sides, so our opening looked like it was in the front of a cave.

We glued on some pulled apart cotton balls for snow.

And, we added a kid style "do not disturb" sign.

The girls placed some leaves from the yard, into the cave, for the bear to use as a bed.

And, finally, in went the bear. Ready for to sleep for the winter.

I hope to follow this craft up, today, with some picture books about bears, and hibernating. You can find a great list books on the subject, for the preschool set, as well as a number of finger plays, and crafts (including this one, only with a paper bear), here, at Step by Step Child Care's, "Hibernation Theme" page.

It's great to be a homeschooler.