The Valentine Bears Unit Study & Lapbook

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This unit study includes lessons and lapbook printables based on the book The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting.

Mr. and Mrs. Bear have never celebrated St. Valentine’s Day because they hibernate during the winter. Mrs. Bear sets her alarm and makes several Valentine’s Day preparations, but Mr. Bear won’t wake up! What will Mrs. Bear do?

This simple, sweet story is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Grab our free The Valentine Bears Unit Study and Lapbook and create a fun Valentine learning memory with your student.

The Valentine Bears Unit Study Lessons

Here are some sample lessons from the The Valentine Bears Unit Study.

Language Arts: Rhyming Words
Mrs. Bear writes some simple poems for Mr. Bear. Can you student pick out the rhyming words? (blue/too; fine/valentine) Can you and your student think of other words that rhyme with these? (blue, too, zoo, Sue, kazoo, you). You may even want to make a list and see how many words you can think of that rhyme.

Language Arts: Listmaking & Comprehension
List all the ways Mrs. Bear prepared for Valentine’s Day for Mr. Bear. After you finish, list all the ways your family plans to prepare for Valentine’s Day.

Art: Use of Color
After reading the book (a few times), ask your student what colors are used? Why does your student think the illustrator, Jan Brett, chose these colors for this story? What was she trying to accomplish with her use of color? (emphasizing certain objects). Where would your student have chosen to use color if he was drawing the same pictures? Your student may want to try drawing a picture for Valentine’s Day and using only red/yellow for emphasis on certain objects making careful, deliberate choices like artists do.

Science: Animals in Winter
During the winter, bears retreat to their dens (or caves) and go to sleep for a long time (some sleep for up to six months!) surviving on stored body fat. A bear can be aroused from sleep just like Mr. and Mrs. Bear were. Because they can wake up, they are not considered a hibernating animal even though their heart rate, breathing, and body temperature slow down or drop.

You can grab a copy of the entire The Valentine Bears Unit Study and Lapbook in an easy-to-print file at the end of this post.

The Valentine Bears Lapbook Printables

In addition to the unit study lessons, the file also includes mini-books for your student to create a The Valentine Bears Lapbook.

St. Valentine Legends Interlock Book
I Can Be Loving Heart Shaped Accordion Book
I John 4:7-8 Matchbook
I John 4:9 Matchbook
Insects Shutterflap Book

My Valentine Poem Page & Pocket
My Valentine Cards Envelope
Rhyming Words Twice Folded Book
My Little Book of Synonyms
Mrs. Bear’s Preparations Pull-tab Book

How Many Hearts? Counting Book
February Calendar Activity Page
Life Cycle of the Ant Wheel Book
Five Fast Facts for Ants Notebooking Page

The Valentine Bears Lapbook Example

This lapbook example was made with one file folder and piece of cardstock taped to the center area.

How to Get Started with Your The Valentine Bears Unit Study & Lapbook

Follow these simple instructions to get started with the The Valentine Bears Unit Study:

Buy a copy of the book, The Valentine Bears, or borrow one from your local library.
Print the The Valentine Bears unit study.
Choose the lessons you want to use with your student (a highlighter works great for this).
Choose and prepare the lapbook printables you want to use with your student.
Enjoy a week of celebrating Valentine’s Day with your student.