First Grade Researches The Animals Featured in Fairy Tales

Our nonfiction reading project this spring in first grade is "Animals Featured in Fairy Tales." In preparation for this project, the students have been reading different versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. The animals featured in these tales are the bear, wolf and the pig.

This first grade research project begins with the study of the American Black Bear. This is the most common bear in North America and is the kind of bear featured in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Students brainstormed questions that they had about the Black Bear and a teacher recorded their questions on a chart. 

Students then gained knowledge through listening to a teacher read a book aloud about this kind of bear, watching videos about the bear and reading and highlighting information of interest in articles. Students have many opportunities to share their knowledge and questions with a partner and then with the whole group. 

Once students have finished writing facts of interest about the bear from the different resources presented; they are ready to conference with a teacher and order their facts. They then write their good copy. Pictures of the bear are shared with the class and each student chooses a photo that reflects one of their facts and then using the photo as a guide they create their own illustration that will be part of their finished book. This process is repeated for both the study of the wolf and the pig. Each student will share their research knowledge at our “Author’s Celebration” on the morning of May 29^tth with their families.

The following are links to two of the videos about the American Black Bear shown to our first grade researchers.

Black Bears National Park Animals for Kids

Black Bear Mother and Two Cubs Prepare for Hibernation