We're Going on a Bear Hunt!

Have you heard of the story entitled "We're Going on a Bear Hunt"? I (Nadhia here!) personally had never encounter this story during my childhood, but when I was a student in UK, my beloved TEYL lecturer introduced this story to us (the Malaysian students). Basically it's a story about a family who went to the forest to hunt for bear. We didn't just sit down and listen to the lecturer reading the story. Instead, he (kinda) forced us to act out the story while he read it. It was fun! We really enjoyed the lesson (I was 22 years old at that time, mind you!)!

Anyway, here is the story. Maybe you can use it with your students! Who knows they will love it. Enjoy. ^_____^

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

(Baskwill, J. & Whitman, P. 1986)

Leader: We’re going on a bear hunt. (Slap hands together.)
Echo: We’re going on a bear hunt.
Leader: Are you ready?
Echo: Are you ready?
Leader: Let’s go! (Forward motion with arm and finger to point direction.)
Response: Let’s go!
(Begin to tap thighs with hands in a walking beat and maintain this throughout, unless
otherwise directed.)

Leader: (Cup hand over eyes in searching motion.) I see some tall grass.
Echo: I see some tall grass.
Leader: Can't go over it. (Make over motion)
Echo: Can't go over it.
Leader: Can't go under it. (Make under motion)
Echo: Can't go under it.
Leader: We’ll have to go through it. (Brush palms together to make swishing noise.)
Echo: We’ll have to go through it.

Resume walking sound.
Leader: I see a bridge.
Echo: I see a bridge.
Leader: Can't go under it.
Echo: Can’t go under it.

Leader: Can’t go around it.
Echo: Can’t go around it.
Leader: We’ll have to go over it. (Thump chest.)
Echo: We’ll have to go over it.

Resume walking sound.

Leader: I see a river. (Hug arms as if chilly)
Echo: I see a river.
Leader: Can't go over it.
Echo: Can't go over it.
Leader: Can't go under it.
Echo: Can't go under it.
Leader: We’ll have to swim across it. (Make
swimming motions with arms.)
Echo: We’ll have to swim across it.

Resume walking sound.

Leader: I see a lot of mud.
Echo: I see a lot of mud.
Leader: Can't go under it.
Echo: Can’t go under it.
Leader: Can’t go around it.
Echo: Can’t go around it.
Leader: We’ll have to go through it. (Make squishing sounds with your voice and palms
of hands)

Resume walking sound.

Leader: I see a t-a-a-a-ll tree. (Look way up with had cupped over brow)
Echo: I see a t-a-a-a-ll tree.
Leader: Can't go over it.
Echo: Can't go over it.
Leader: Can't go under it.
Echo: Can't go under it.
Leader: We’ll have to climb up it. (Climb up with arms making grunting noises.)
Echo: We’ll have to climb up it.
Leader: No bears. (Look around then climb done)
Echo: No bears.

Resume walking sound.

Leader: I see a da-a-ark cave. (Lowered voice)
Echo: I see a da-a-ark cave.
Leader: Can't go over it.
Echo: Can't go over it.
Leader: Can't go under it.
Echo: Can't go under it.
Leader: We’ll have to g-go in. (Scared voice; slowly slap knees.)
Echo: We’ll have to g-go in.

Leader: What’s that? (Whispering)
Echo: What’s that?
Leader: I see two eyes. (Point to eyes.)
Echo: I see two eyes.
Leader: I see two ears. (Point to ears.)
Echo: I see two ears.
Leader: I see a black nose. (Point to nose.)
Echo: I see a black nose.
Leader: I see a BIG mouth. (Make a big mouth with hands.)
Echo: I see a BIG mouth.
Leader: It's a…
Echo: It’s a…
Leader: BEAR!!!
Echo: BEAR!!!
Leader: Let's get out of here. (Quickly run backward through all the actions to
“return home”. Remember to do the running sound by tapping thighs with hands
quickly)
Leader: Whew! We made it!

Good luck!