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Unit Plan
Friends of Algonquin Park

The Science Behind Algonquin's Animals: Black Bear

For Students 3rd - 8th
Known as the American Black Bear or commonly the Black Bear, information is detailed on its appearance, weight, migration patterns, food sources, major predators and breeding. This is an excellent resource for the student researcher.
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Handout
Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Canadian Geographic: Animal Facts: Kermode Bear

For Students 3rd - 8th
Offers quick facts on the Kermode bear about physical appearance, habitat, behavior and range. The Kermode bear is also known as the spirit bear or ghost bear.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Mustelidae

For Students 9th - 10th
This Wikipedia encyclopedia article explores mustelids, a family of carnivorous mammals. Content includes a look at the range of species in this family, including a look at their common characteristics.
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Primary
University of Florida

Baldwin Library: Bear Stories: A Glance at the Bear Family by Ernest Ingersoll

For Students 2nd - 5th
This is an online photocopy of the original text of the children's book Bear Stories: A Glance at the Bear Family by Ernest Ingersoll (c1884), a collection of ten true bear stories with illustrations.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: Disappearing by Degrees

For Students 9th - 10th
Mary-Russell Roberson's article, "Disappearing by Degrees," highlights the problems with maintaining the current polar bear population. The article discusses how the current temperature and weather conditions also affect polar bear...
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: The Bears Among Us

For Students 9th - 10th
This article focuses on a variety of bears (American black bears, brown bears (including grizzlies), and polar bears). The largest focus in the article is on conservation efforts on behalf of bears.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: Sloth Bears

For Students 9th - 10th
This article examines the history of sloth bears, conservation efforts on behalf of sloth bears, habitats of sloth bears, and more.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: Bear Conservation Around the World

For Students 9th - 10th
This article examines individual species of bears in reference to conservation including the Giant panda, Spectacled bear, Sun Bear, Sloth bear, American Black Bear, Asiatic black bear, Brown Bear, and more.
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Website
Other

Encounters: Wild Explorers: Polar Bear

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn fascinating facts about the incredible polar bear and listening to them growl.
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Website
Other

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: Mammals

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive animal guide from the Columbus Zoo highlights general information and fun facts about mammals; this information can be sorted by diet or region where they live. Select an animal from the extensive list to begin exploring.
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Handout
PBS

Dialogue for Kids: Bear Facts & Information

For Students 3rd - 8th
This Dialogue for Kids site by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game features detailed information on bears, their lifestyle, habitat, and much more. Links and lesson plans can be found here as well.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: Nature: Walking With Giants: The Grizzlies of Siberia

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives lots of great information on grizzly bears in Siberia. Read about living near grizzlies, baby bears, and captivity of these animals.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: Nature: Showdown at Grizzly River

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS Nature presents Grizzlies. Learn how grizzly bears raise their young around McNeil River Falls, a place in the wilderness of Alaska. This is a great place because of the salmon that swim up stream every summer.
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Handout
A-Z Animals

A Z Animals: Animal Facts: Bear (Ursidae)

For Students 9th - 10th
Illustrated entry describes Bears along with providing details about its habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and habitat.
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Handout
A-Z Animals

A Z Animals: Animal Facts: Giant Panda Bear (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca)

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry identifies the defining characteristics of Alluropoda Melanoleuca, more commonly known as the Giant Panda Bear.
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Handout
A-Z Animals

A Z Animals: Animal Facts: Grizzly Bear (Ursus Arctos Horriblis)

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry identifies the defining characteristics of Ursus Arctos Horriblis, more commonly known as the Grizzly Bear.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Looking for a Bear

For Teachers 3rd
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a brother and sister's trip to the museum. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Interactive
Other

Berenstain Bears: Activities for Learning and Fun

For Students 2nd - 5th
This is the official Berenstain Bears website. Students can read from an interactive story book, create their own coloring book, or try any of the latest activities in the Kids tab.
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Article
Defenders of Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife: Polar Bear

For Students 3rd - 8th
Has a fact sheet on the polar bear and video footage of a polar bear in the Arctic.
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Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Bears Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This lesson plan explores how polar bears survive in areas near the North Pole.
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Handout
BBC

Bbc: Nature Wildfacts: Red Panda, Lesser Panda

For Students 9th - 10th
The BBC provides this photo-illustrated fact sheet on the red or lesser panda of Asia.
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Lesson Plan
Orca Book Publishers

Orca Book Publishers: Flight From Bear Canyon Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Flight From Bear Canyon, an adventure novel written by Anita Daher, is set in the Nahanni River Valley of Canada's Northwest Territories. It tells the story of a young girl's experience as she flies a plane and helps to save the life of...
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Website
World Wildlife Fund for Nature

World Wildlife Fund: Polar Bears

For Students 6th - 8th
This resource offers detailed information on polar bears.
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Handout
Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Canadian Geographic: Animal Facts: Grizzly Bear

For Students 3rd - 5th
Offers quick facts on the grizzly bear about physical appearance, habitat, behavior and its range.