Teacher's Guide - Bears Year 2000 and Beyond

Activity 6 - Make Your Own Postcard

Level
All

Purpose
To illustrate an appreciation of wildlife without jeopardising an animal’s wildness.

Materials

Card stock cut to the size of postcards.
Writing pens
Coloured pencils
One stamp per student

Procedure

Writing and Drawing

1. This activity can be used as follow-up to your visit to the exhibit Bears: 2000 and Beyond , or another significant part of your unit on bears.

a) Discuss important things you have learned about bears. What was your favorite part of the exhibit visit or the bears unit? What did you learn that you didn’t know before? What will you tell others about bears as a result?

2. Using the blank card, make your own postcard.

a) Make a drawing on one side that reflects what you have learned about bears. Do you feel differently about bears now than you did before?
b) On the other side, explain your image in writing. Be sure to leave room for the address and stamp.

3. Ask students to volunteer to share their postcards with the class. Discuss.

a) What if you sent this postcard to yourself? When you receive it in the mail, it will be a reminder of what you learned about bears. You can also share the news with others in your family, like you would if you got a postcard from a friend far away.
c) You can use this postcard to start a nature scrapbook and add to it by sending yourself postcards about animals you see on your travels or other special experiences you have in natural areas.
d) If you take a moment to write about your nature experiences as they happen, you will have a permanent record that will be personal and meaningful. When you receive your postcard in the mail, it will be like experiencing that moment all over again! The experiences you have today can be shared with others for years to come.

Evaluation

Ability to recall and express some primary lessons relating to bears

Curriculum Connections
Visual Art; Language Learning; Environmental Science

Introduction – Activities – Glossary – Guided Program
Whyte Museum – Bears: 2000 and Beyond Teacher's Guide

Activity 6 - Make Your Own Postcard
Level	All
Purpose	To illustrate an appreciation of wildlife without jeopardising an animal’s wildness.
Materials	Card stock cut to the size of postcards. Writing pens Coloured pencils One stamp per student
Procedure	Writing and Drawing 1. This activity can be used as follow-up to your visit to the exhibit Bears: 2000 and Beyond , or another significant part of your unit on bears. a) Discuss important things you have learned about bears. What was your favorite part of the exhibit visit or the bears unit? What did you learn that you didn’t know before? What will you tell others about bears as a result? 2. Using the blank card, make your own postcard. a) Make a drawing on one side that reflects what you have learned about bears. Do you feel differently about bears now than you did before? b) On the other side, explain your image in writing. Be sure to leave room for the address and stamp. 3. Ask students to volunteer to share their postcards with the class. Discuss. a) What if you sent this postcard to yourself? When you receive it in the mail, it will be a reminder of what you learned about bears. You can also share the news with others in your family, like you would if you got a postcard from a friend far away. c) You can use this postcard to start a nature scrapbook and add to it by sending yourself postcards about animals you see on your travels or other special experiences you have in natural areas. d) If you take a moment to write about your nature experiences as they happen, you will have a permanent record that will be personal and meaningful. When you receive your postcard in the mail, it will be like experiencing that moment all over again! The experiences you have today can be shared with others for years to come.
Evaluation	Ability to recall and express some primary lessons relating to bears
Curriculum Connections	Visual Art; Language Learning; Environmental Science