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Communities
Active in Play
Teddy Bear Picnic
Communities Active in Play
Teddy Bear Picnic Active Play Sheet
Jigsaw Scavenger Hunt
Improve motor
planning and
memory whilst
being active!
This is a fantastic activity that you can enjoy with
your child.

Use the Teddy Bear jigsaw template (see
activity handout) or draw a picture or cut
out a picture of a teddy bear from a
magazine.

Stick the picture onto cardboard and cut
the Teddy Bear into puzzle pieces.

Hide the pieces around the house and go
searching for them together.

When all the pieces are found, put the
jigsaw together.
For older children you could use pieces which
relate to ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ and
hide pictures of 3 Beds, 3 Bowls of Porridge and 3
Chairs around the house.
If the weather is permitting you could take this
activity outside and have an outdoor scavenger
hunt.
You could even invite some friends over and have
a large scale jigsaw scavenger hunt with prizes at
the end.
Bear Hopscotch
Improve physical
fitness, balance,
and co-ordination.
Use chalk to draw three bear footprints of
varying sizes on the footpath.
Step onto the largest footprint and say ‘Daddy
Bear’, then onto the next footprint and say
‘Mummy Bear’ and finally onto the smallest
foot print and say ‘Baby Bear, Yeah!’
Alternatively call out different ways to jump
and land (for example jump with two feet or
hop on one foot) , throw a stone and jump to
the footprint where the stone lands or draw
footprints in different colours and encourage
children to land on the colour you call out.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Turn Around
Have fun together playing a Teddy Bear
themed game of ‘Simon Says’. Begin by saying
“Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear says…”

Turn around

Touch the ground

Jump up high

Reach for the sky
This is a great active game which can be
played inside with one or two children or in an
outside space with many children.
Round and Round the Garden
Many songs and
rhythms can
encourage lots
of activity.
Round and round the garden
Like a teddy bear
One step, two steps
Tickly under there
Round and round the lighthouse
Up the spiral stair
One step, two steps
Right up in the air
Round and round the house
Goes the little bear
Creeping, creeping
Into his little house
Encourage your child to dance and join in with the
actions to the song. For older children they will
enjoy spinning around and crouching down and
jump into the air in the ‘lighthouse’ verse. Babies
can be lifted up into the air.
Goldilocks Chasey
Go outside or walk to the local park and tell
your child the story of Goldilocks and the Three
Bears.
Find an open space and take turns being either
Goldilocks or the bear that is going to chase
Goldilocks because she ate their porridge. You
could tickle your child when you catch them!
Gather a group of friends together for a Teddy
Bear’s picnic and play this game in the backyard
or at the park.
Try forming a circle and placing ‘Goldilocks’
inside the circle and the ‘Bear’ on the outside.
The people forming the circle can make
pathways allowing Goldilocks to move in and
out and keep the bear from catching her.
On a fine day children could dress up or pretend to
be teddy bear and go outside into the garden and
sing this rhyme together.
Hide and Seek
Improve visual
perceptual skills
by scanning for
hidden items.
Gather some of your child’s favourite Teddy
Bears together and play a game of ‘Hide and
Seek’ with them.

Play with one Teddy or as many as you
like.

Close your eyes and count whilst your
child hides them around the room,
house or garden.

Seek out the Teddy Bears.

You could then swap roles and hide the
Teddy Bears while you child shuts their
eyes.
Three Bear Porridge
An enjoyable way to engage with your child could
be to make some porridge together in the kitchen.
You could discuss the concepts of hot, cold and
porridge that is ‘just right’ to eat.
Perhaps you could have a breakfast picnic outside in
the yard or walk around the garden while your
porridge cools.
This can be played in any safe space and is a
great game for a rainy day. You could have a
Hide and Seek race and see who can find the
most hidden Teddy Bears.
Communities Active in Play
Teddy Bear Picnic Activity Handout
Make a Teddy Bear Jigsaw – Hide and Seek
What you need

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Teddy Bear Template
Cardboard
Glue
Scissors
Crayons / Pencils
Instructions
Step 1: Encourage your child to colour in the Teddy Bear puzzle template.
Step 2:.When decorated, stick the Teddy Bear onto a piece of cardboard. You could use
cardboard from a cereal box or other packaging. Using cardboard is a great way of reducing
and recycling! Jig saw piece could also be laminated or contacted for extra durability.
Step 3: After the template is stuck onto the cardboard, cut the Teddy Bear into three
sections by cutting along the marked lines.
Step 4: Complete the jigsaw with your child and talk about the different parts of the jigsaw.
This will help familiarize your child with the puzzle.
Step 5: Hide the puzzle pieces around the house or yard and have a scavenger hunt to find
all the pieces. Make the scavenger hunt simple to start with and increase the difficulty, to
challenge them as your child becomes more familiar with the game.
You can create more of a challenge by placing pieces under items (explain that they will
need to look underneath cushions or behind trees etc.) Children also like to play cold,
warm, and hot (cold being when they are furthest from the item they are searching for and
hot when almost at the item) when on a scavenger hunt. Complete the puzzle when all the
pieces are collected.
Playgroup/s:
ACTIVE PLAY GROUP SESSION PLAN
Teddy Bear Picnic
Active Play Activities
Session Date:
Presentation/Set Up
Activity : Natural Obstacle Course (Active Use naturally occurring obstacles in an outdoor
Obstacle Stations)
space to create an obstacle course consisting of
Equipment/Resources:
3-6 different stations that allow children to move
 Chalk
from one station to next until they get to the
 Items
found
in
the
outdoor picnic blanket. Your child may like to take their
environment
favourite teddy bear or soft toy with them while
 Picnic Blanket
completing the obstacle course.
 Draw stepping stones on the ground and
get the children to jump from one to the
other.
 Encourage children to weave through
trees or bushes.
 Roll down grassy hills or jump over piles
of leaves.
This activity is flexible and allows you to
incorporate any environmental aspects you have
access to into your obstacle course.
The last station will be a picnic rug to sit at and
enjoy a teddy bear picnic.
Individual Activity: Colour/decorate teddy Use the ‘Teddy Bear Picnic’ handout or
Jigsaw
alternative teddy bear picture.
Equipment/Resources: Refer to the ‘Teddy
Bear Picnic’ handout.
Optional Group Activity: Teddy Bear Picnic
Hide and Seek game
Equipment/Resources: Refer to the ‘Teddy
Bear Picnic’ handout.
Refer to the ‘Teddy Bear Picnic’ handout for
instructions on playing Teddy Bears Picnic hide
and seek game.
Observation/s (How did the
activity go?)
Duration of Session:
Comments (what would I change, add
to and repeat?)
Art Activity: Teddy Bear Footprints
Equipment/Resources:
ACTIVE PLAY GROUP SESSION PLAN
Teddy Bear Picnic
Make a bear footprint stencil from thick card
board. Using as a stencil assist the child to trace
around the stencil onto thick cardboard. Help the
child cut around the bear footprints.
 Bear foot print stencil
 Thick cardboard (old cereal boxes Paint/colour and decorate their bear footprints.
When the bear footprints have dried put a hole in
doubled up work well)
each side of the Bear foot print and secure
 Marker pen
enough string or ribbon to tie the bear foot print
 Scissors
around the child’s foot. Ask the child to leave
 Pencils/paint
their shoes on if wearing the bear footprints
 Items to decorate with
outdoors. Demonstrate how to walk as a bear
 Hole punch
and encourage the children to make up their own
 String/wool or ribbon
bear walk or dance. Alternatively bear masks are
also fun to make and add to the child’s bear
custom. A simple paper plate will make a
wonderful bear mask.
Group Time
Presentation/Set Up
Observation/s (How did the
activity go?)
Activity: Bear Relay
Talk to the children about the three bears in the
Equipment/Resources:
story of Goldilocks and the three bears.

Encourage children to move like a bear,
 Masking Tape
crawling and upright.

Split the children into groups and mark a
finishing line on the ground with masking
tape. Encourage the children to crawl like
a bear as fast as they can to the other
end. You may also play as a relay with
older children.
Group Time Songs
Sing familiar group songs. You may introduce the
Equipment/Resources:
song “Round and Round the Garden” (from the
 Singing voices and a selection of Active Play Sheet) or other examples may include
songs relating to teddy bears
 Teddy Bear Teddy Bear
 Refer to Teddy Bears Picnic song
 Rock –a –Bye Your Bear
sheet
 The Bear went over the mountain
Comments (what would I change, add
to and repeat?)
ACTIVE PLAY GROUP SESSION PLAN
Teddy Bear Picnic
Activity: Story time
Equipment/Resources:
 Book
You may like to investigate some other songs
relating to the ‘Teddy Bear Picnic’ theme.
Gather everyone for story time by singing
“Everybody Sit Down, Sit Down” song. Finish
group time by reading a selected book, such as
“Goldilocks and the three bears”.
Communities Active in Play
Teddy Bear Picnic
Session Preparation Checklist
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Communities Active in Play
Teddy Bear Picnic Song Sheet
Round and Round the Garden
Round and round the garden,
Gently trace finger in a circle around child’s palm
Like a Teddy Bear.
Walk your fingers up child’s arm
One step, two step,
Tickle under chin, under arm or tummy
Tickle you under there
Tickle under arms or around arms
Bananas in Pyjamas
Bananas in pyjamas are coming down the stairs,
Bananas in pyjamas are coming down in pairs,
Bananas in pyjamas are chasing teddy bears,
‘Cos on Tuesdays,
They all try to,
Catch them unawares!
Rock-a-Bye Your Bear
Everybody clap,
(Clap! Clap! Clap! )
Everybody sing,
La la la la la!
Bow to your partner,
Then you turn around
YIPEE!
Hands in the air,
Rock-a-bye your bear,
Bear's now asleep,
Shh! Shh! Shh!
Bear's now asleep,
Shh! Shh! Shh!
Everybody clap,
(Clap! Clap! Clap! )
Everybody sing,
La la la la la!
Bow to your partner,
Then you turn around
YIPEE!
Hands in the air,
Rock-a-bye your bear,
Bear's now asleep,
Shh! Shh! Shh!
Bear's now asleep,
Shh! Shh! Shh!
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty
Teddy Bear
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear..
Turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear..
Touch the ground,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear..
Teach up high
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear..
Wink one eye,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear..
Touch your knees,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear..
Sit down please.
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
To see what he could see.
And all that he could see,
And all that he could see,
Was the other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see.
Teddy Bear's Picnic Song
If you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.
If you go out in the woods today,
You'd better not go alone.
It's lovely out in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have
their picnic
CHORUS
Picnic time for teddy bears,
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily dance about.
They love to play and shout.
And never have any cares.
At six o'clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little teddy bears.
Every teddy bear, that's been good
Is sure of a treat today
There's lots of wonderful things to eat
And wonderful games to play
Beneath the trees, where nobody
sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they
please
Today's the day the teddy bears have
their picnic
CHORUS
Communities Active in Play
Fast Facts: Teddy Bear Picnic
Children develop gross motor skills through every day play. They not only
learn how to move around in their environment but also refine their
movements through repetition and practice.
Gross Motor Skills:
What are they?
Gross motor skills involve the use of the entire body or various parts of
the body at same time. Examples of gross motor skills include rolling,
crawling, walking, jumping and running. They are the BIG movements.
Examples of activities that support gross motor skill development from
“Teddy Bears Picnic” Active Play Sheet include:

Bending down and touching the ground in the song “Teddy
Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around”

Running in Goldilocks Chasey

Jumping in Bear Hopscotch
When engaged in active play your child will repeatedly preform many
gross motor movements. By repeating movements they will gradually
gain strength, balance and coordination. Playing games such as the
hide and seek or chasey are great ways to develop gross motor skills.
You can play hide and
seek outside or inside.
Hiding different objects or
a favourite toy or teddy
will gain your child’s
interest. Playing hide and
seek regularly with your
child can improve your
child’s visual perceptual
skills by …

Improving their
ability to
remember
different object
shapes

Assist them to
discriminate
between different
objects

Encourage them to
look for objects in
different
environments

Increase
awareness to
identify
differences and
similarities in
individual objects
Visual Perception
Visual perceptual skills are those that your child uses to gather visual information from their surrounding
environment, process it and integrate them into other senses, for example reading a book and being able
to read the words out loud.
An example of an activity that supports the development of visual perceptual skills from “Teddy Bears
Picnic” Active Play Sheet is “Hide and Seek”. The visual perceptual skills needed to play hide and seek
include:

The ability to remember the shape of the teddy bears

The ability to find the hidden teddy bears when they partially covered up

The ability to distinguish and recognise different teddy bears.
You can play hide and seek outside or inside. Hiding different objects or a favourite toy will gain your child’s
interest. Playing hide and seek regularly with your child can improve your child’s visual perceptual skills.
Fine Motor Skills
What are they?
Fine motor skills are the capacity to control the small muscles in the hand and fingers needed for particular
movements. Examples of activities that support fine motor skill development from “Teddy Bears Picnic”
Active Play Sheet include:

Hand and finger actions to the nursery rhyme “Round and Round the Garden”

Making porridge and eating with a spoon

Colouring in jigsaw

Collecting and putting jigsaw pieces together
Glastonbury Community Services, Communities Active in Play (CAP) Program aims to support and
encourage parents to meet the Australian Government recommendation that children from birth to
5 years of age engage in physical activity every day for at least 3 hours, spread throughout the day
and not be inactive for more than 1 hour at a time expect for when they are sleeping.
CAP is on the move and coming to you!