We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Mask: Easy Preschool Craft Tutorial

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ has to be one of our all-time favourite books for children. Rosen’s beautiful, lyrical story is one we often repeat both at bedtime and when going for walks in the countryside. And that is ultimately what inspired us to create this We’re Going on a Bear Hunt mask.

We’re typically not a family that takes props out with us whilst we walk, but once in a while it’s fun to do something a little different. Sometimes a familiar walk can be made more extraordinary when a little bit of dramatic play is included. If you have a favourite park or forest, you might want to take along your crafted We’re Going on a Bear Hunt mask with you.

As a family, getting outside is really important to us. My youngest – and most active child – thrives when we spend plenty of time in the countryside. And this is why we loved creating this We’re Going on a Bear Hunt mask so much – as we were able to recreate the story whilst playing outside.

Age Recommendation

If you want your child to be fully involved with making this We’re Going on a Bear Hunt mask, then I recommend that they are over the aged of 6. This is so that they can follow along with instructions and put together the mask (with supervision). In this craft, we used a hot glue gun and scissors.

With that being said, when we originally made this mask, my daughter was 2 and my son was 8. My daughter helped with the painting (using non-toxic paints) whilst my son helped to put the masks together.

How to make a We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Mask

These instructions make one We’re Going on a Bear Hunt mask inspired by Michael Rosen’s book. It could be used as part of a classroom activity in school or at home.

You will need:

• paper plate
• Corrugated card or sturdy craft (construction) paper
• Coffee cup lid
• Brown, white, yellow and black non-toxic acrylic paint
• Googly eyes x2  or black / brown pompoms
• Scissors
• Craft knife
• Paint brush
• String
• Skewer

Method

There are two options for making a We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Mask. You might wish to make one that has cut-out holes for eyes or one that has a craft stick attached so that it can simply be held up in front of the face.

The one you choose might depend on your child. Some really dislike having something tight tied on to their head – my youngest so included! Involve them fully in the process and ask them about their preferences.

For this specific craft, we made a We’re Going on a Bear Hunt mask which is simply held up to the face, however I have also included instructions for one which could be affixed to the face instead.

Version One: 

1. Start by painting the mask. You will need 2 paper plates – 1 for the ears and one for the face . Paint the mask using the brown, black and white paints. We used a stippled effect with the end of a paintbrush in order for the mask to look more ‘fur-like.’
2. Leave the masks to dry, then cut the corregated paper into 2 semicircle shapes to make ears
3. Attach the semi-circle ‘ears’ to the top of the mask from the back using a glue gun or strong glue
4. Use the scissors to cut out eye holes in the paper plate. Make sure they’re at the right height for your child’s eyes when they hold the mask up to their face. It’s a good idea to have your child try it on to ensure the eye holes align correctly.
5. Attach a black coffee cup lid (or paint a white lid black) to the centre of the mask, below the eye holes to make the nose
6. Pierce two holes either side of the mask, the thread through the string. Use a piece of string or ribbon, attaching one end to each side of the mask for your child to hold on to.
7. Let everything dry before your child plays with the mask

Version Two:

1. Start by painting the mask. You will need 2 paper plates – 1 for the ears and one for the face . Paint the mask using the brown, black and white paints. We used a stippled effect with the end of a paintbrush in order for the mask to look more ‘fur-like.’
2. Leave the masks to dry, then cut the corrugated paper into 2 semicircle shapes to make ears
3. Attach the semi-circle ‘ears’ to the top of the mask from the back using a glue gun or strong glue
4. Attach a black coffee cup lid (or paint a white lid black) to the centre of the mask, below the eye holes to make the nose
5. Glue googly eyes onto the mask just above the nose or, use white corrugated paper cut into circles (x2) and glue black pompoms on top.
6. Turn the mask over (the side with the rim facing up). Attach a craft stick to the bottom of the mask using glue or tape.
7. Let everything dry before your child plays with the mask

The Educational Benefits of making a We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Mask:

1. Fine Motor Skills: Cutting, coloring, and gluing during the craft activity help develop fine motor skills, essential for writing and other tasks.
2. Creativity and Imagination: Encourages imaginative play and storytelling as children immerse themselves in the world of the book.
3. Artistic Expression: Allows children to express themselves artistically by painting and decorating the bear face.
4. Following Instructions: Following step-by-step instructions in the crafting process helps with comprehension and following directions.
5. Problem Solving: Encourages problem-solving skills when making design choices or addressing any crafting challenges.
6. Cognitive Development: Supports cognitive development as children learn to plan, organize, and execute their craft project.
7. Literacy Skills: Reinforces connections between the craft activity and the book, enhancing comprehension and recall of the story.
8. Role-Playing and Social Skills: Fosters social and role-playing skills as children engage in imaginative play with their bear masks.
9. Storytelling Skills: Encourages storytelling and narrative skills as children act out scenes from the book or create their own bear hunt adventures.
10. Parent-Child Bonding: Strengthens the parent-child bond through shared creative activities and quality time together.
11. Learning About Bears: Offers an opportunity to discuss facts about bears, promoting learning about animals and the natural world.
12. Patience and Focus: Develops patience and concentration as children work on the craft project from start to finish.

Autumn Blog posts to read next:

If you loved this How to make a We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Mask blog post, you might also enjoy some of our other Autumn and Bear Hunt posts. Most are suitable for both toddlers and preschoolers:

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You can also search the keyword ‘Autumn’ in the blog search bar for the most up-to-date Autumn blog post listing.

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