Teddy Bear Picnic for Preschoolers
An Early Childhood Activity for Art and Dramatic Play
Feb 24, 2009
Think of warm weather and sunny skies. How does having a picnic with your child's favorite furry friend sound? This lesson incorporates aspects of the visual arts and dramatic play into a fun filled day of learning.
Lesson Objectives for the Teddy Bear Picnic
- Encourage the use of dramatic/pretend play.
- Explore art making processes.
- Gain new vocabulary skills (these can be words related to picnics, spring, weather, or art).
- Increase awareness of nature/ environment, and seasons.
- Develop an understanding for what a picnic is.
Age Level
Two years +
Materials Needed for a Teddy Bear Picnic
The materials for this activity are very open. You should feel free to alter materials as needed (or based on availability).
- Teddy bears
- Picnic blanket
- Construction paper sheets (all colors)
- Markers or crayons
- Long, thin strips of construction paper
- Construction paper circles
- Glue and tape
- Food: either real or play
Steps Involved in Planning a Teddy Bear Picnic
Before this activity begins, start by having the children create invitations for their teddy bears to the class picnic. This activity can be as open as you want it to be. If you would like the invitations to be simple, use markers (or crayons) and construction paper. For more elaborate invitations, add special details with cut out bears, stickers, glitter, or paint.
Write a brief parent letter, alerting the adults to the picnic. This should contain the date of the picnic, instructions for bringing in a teddy bear from home, and special notes on food (if you are using real food). The letter can be placed with the invitation.
After inviting the special guests, and notifying parents, begin to gather your materials. This includes finding a large picnic blanket, art materials, and food (either real or play).
Discuss picnics with the class. Ask what kind of foods the teddy bears might want to eat on a picnic? If you are using real foods, try to incorporate some of the children's suggestions into the menu (within reason).
Art Making For the Teddy Bear Picnic
There are a world of options for art making during this activity. This list contains a few of the many possibilities. Be creative, and invite the children to participate in the process.
- Teddy Bear Crowns: Ask the children to decorate long, thin strips of paper and paper circles (the circles will become ears). Using the long, thin strips of paper, form a ring around the child's head. Secure with tape. Allow the children to glue the ears onto the bands. These can be decorate further with tissue paper or glitter.
- Placemats: Invite the children to decorate blank sheets of construction paper with crayons or markers.
- Picnic Baskets: View and discuss a real picnic basket. Point out the basket weaving design. Fold a large sheet of construction paper in half. Give the children thin strips of different colored paper and glue sticks. Ask them to weave this paper onto the folded sheet of paper by gluing in an over and under fashion. Staple or tape the sides. Add yarn or construction paper for handles.
Dramatic Play at the Teddy Bear Picnic
Make sure that all teddy bears have a seat at the picnic blanket. Encourage the children to make up stories for their bears. Each child may want to introduce his or her special furry friend. This time should be filled with imagination.
If you are using pretend food, invite the children to act out a real picnic. This may include feeding the bears, feeding themselves, preparing food, and sharing.
Enrichment Activities for the Picnic
- Read books with teddy bear, picnic, or teddy bear picnic themes. Suggestions include The Teddy Bears' Picnic by Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, and Bruce Whatley (Haper Collins, 2000) and Teddy Bears' Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy and Alexandra Day (Aladin Picture Books, 2000).
- If possible (and if you are using real food), invite the children to help prepare the food. be mindful of allergies.
- Have an outdoor picnic on a sunny day, or an indoor picnic on a rainy day.
The teddy bear picnic is a fun, open activity that ignites the imagination of young children. Form the pre-planning phase (invitation making) to the actual picnic, involve your class in this multi-step process.
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