- For this project, you need a package of paper plates, safety scissors, rolls of clear tape, three yards of white plush felt, fabric or craft glue, three black craft foam sheets and one package of large, rubber bands, enough for each student. Each child will receive two paper plates. To make the mask, students will cut two, 3-inch wide, 2-inch tall, semicircles from one plate. Tape these semicircles to the top of the other plate as ears, leaving 6 inches in between.
Place each mask on top of the felt, cut out the mask outline and glue it to the mask. Each child will cut two eye holes. Cut a circular nose from the black foam and attach to the mask with glue. Use a pencil to poke a hole in the right and left side of the mask. Cut the rubber band and tie each end of the band through the holes behind the mask. - To make soft sock puppets, you need several packages of long, white socks, three large sheets of white craft foam, safety scissors, fabric glue, one package of large-sized, googly eyes and one package of round, black plastic button or craft beads. Each child will get one sock, one pair of scissors, two eyes and one black button. Each will cut two, ½-inch by ½-inch wide ears out of the white foam and glue them to the bottom of the sock (which will be the head of the bear). Instruct the students to glue on the two eyes and one black button for a nose.
- This activity is a realistic class diorama of polar bears in the Arctic. You need a plastic or inflatable child 's pool, which is 4-foot or more in diameter, several 6-inch diameter Styrofoam circles (one for each child), foam cutter, markers, craft glue and one small plush, white polar bear doll or teddy bear for each child. Use the foam cutter to create a jagged and uneven edge on each circle. These will represent the Arctic ice floes. Give each child a Styrofoam circle and bear. Instruct students to glue the bear to the Styrofoam, then write her name on foam in front of the bear. While outside, fill the pool with water and place all of the bears in the pool as if they are floating on ice in the Arctic.
- This project incorporates fur, adding a tactile element. Give each student two sheets of construction paper, one pair of safety scissors and one box of markers. Instruct them to fold the sheets in half lengthwise and cut along the fold. Create a simple, three- or four-page picture book of polar bears in the Arctic. Give each student a one-foot square of white craft fur or plush felt (two or more children can share the felt if you don't have enough) and one bottle of glue. Instruct the students to cut small squares of material and glue this to the bears in their book. Staple the books along one side.
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