We can't go over it, we can't go under it. OH NO! We've got to go through it!

This week we have been reading a good old favourite book of ours again. In fact, it's everyone's favourite surely?

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

                                                                                                                                    By Michael Rosen

I actually don't think we will ever tire of this book!

After the 5th time of reading the book this week, we decided to get out and enjoy the sunshine with an impromtu trip to the local forest for a picnic.

As soon as we got there, unprompted by me, the kids started acting out parts of the story that they could see. The repetition in the book is just fabulous for learning, even my 2 year old knows the whole book off by heart!

"We're going on a bear hunt

We're going to catch a BIG one

What a beautiful day

We're not scared"

There little faces lit up and became the most animated I have ever seen them as they shuffled along chanting the words.

"Uh uh! Grass!

Long, wavy grass."

"We can't go over it

We can't go under it

Oh no! We've got to go through it!"

Wellies and socks straight off to feel the prickly grass beneath our feet. 

SWISHY SWASHY!

SWISHY SWASHY!

SWISHY SWASHY!

Marching through the long, wavy grass, they begin to chant once more.

"We're going on a bear hunt

We're going to catch a BIG one

What a beautiful day

We're not scared.

Uh uh! A River!

A deep, cold river."

Imagination is a wonderful thing. The deep, cold river was a stream no deeper than 3 inches. It was PERFECT!

"We can't go over it

We can't go under it

Oh no! We've got to go through it!"

So, socks and wellies still strewn across the forest somewhere, they did just that.

SPLASH SPLOSH!

SPLASH SPLOSH!

SPLASH SPLOSH!

From the prickly, warm grass, into the wet, cold water.....our feet went all tingly right through to our tippitoes.

"We're going on a bear hunt

We're going to catch a BIG one

What a beautiful day

We're not scared

Uh uh! MUD!

Thick, Oozy Mud."

Luckily with the huge amounts of rain we've been having, the forest was full of oozy mud!

"We can't go over it

We can't go under it

Oh no! We've got to go through it!"

And luckily because of the very wet British summer we've had, we were very much prepared with wellies. Although it would have been fun to go in bare foot and wash our feet in the stream. Next time we shall be more prepared with some towels!!!!

"SQUELCH SQUERCH"

SQUELCH SQUERCH!

SQUELCH SQUERCH!"

And back to the bear hunt chant. Seriously, we will never tire of this!

"We're going on a bear hunt.

We're going to catch a BIG one.

What a beautiful day!

We're not scared.

Uh uh! A Forest! 

A BIG dark forest."

"We can't go over it

We can't go under it

Oh no! We've got to go through it!"

"STUMBLE TRIP!

STUMBLE TRIP!

STUMBLE TRIP!"

And sure enough, true to the story, but very much by accident they stumbled and tripped their whole way through the deep, dark forest.

Next in the story there is a snowstorm but they omitted this part today, as the sun was shining and they obviously didn't feel very snowy and their imagination was just too darn tired by this point!

They did however tip toe, tip toe, tip toe, to the narrow, gloomy cave (which was very much imaginary)....

"WHAT'S THAT???

One Shiny wet nose

Two big furry ears

Two big goggly eyes......"

"IT'S A BEAR"

Yes poor old Willow was the big bear they screamed at and ran away from. Poor thing didn't know what was happening and got a little excited with them.....

Ooops!

We were all too hungry and tired after that big adventure so instead of going back through it all really quick, we just plonked our bums down for some yummy picnic and then headed home.

In the car on the way home, the last words of the trip were very different to that in the book where the children say "We're not going on a bear hunt again". Oh no, these children said 

"When can we do that again???"

And then proceded to fall asleep one by one!!!!

I have a few more bear hunt activities planned over the coming weeks seen as though the kids enjoy it so much, including a some small world sensory trays, so look out for them on the blog soon!!!!