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604-291-9990
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The BCWF would like to acknowlege the on-going support of the
BC Government.
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(Know)
Key Points
- Colour and size ö students must know that colour and size are not reliable ways to distinguish black bears and grizzlies.
- Bear profile and characteristics ö use shoulder hump and face profiles as main ways to tell the two species apart. Colour and length of claws, as well as ear size and shape relative to the head, can be helpful indicators.
- It is valuable to show the two bears' size and profile relative to your students' size.
- Contrast the tracks of both species.
Learning Activities
- Show examples of skulls, claws, hides, teeth to stimulate questions and discussion. Ask students to bring some of these from home and tell about them. This involves your students in the lesson.
- If possible, visit a taxidermist or borrow pelts for students to handle.
- Use life-size cardboard cut out profiles of black bear and grizzly bear and have students stand next to them. This will help them understand bear size in relation to their own size. It is also a good way to help them see the differences in profiles (shoulder hump and face shape).
- An alternative is to draw the profiles on an overhead transparency and move the projector back until the bear profile is life-size. Then have a student stand next to the bear profile so the class can see the size relationship.
Teaching Aids
- Pictures, drawings, overhead transparencies, hides, skulls and claws to help students see the similarities and differences.
- Cardboard cut-outs or overhead transparencies as described above. Include a profile of a bear standing as well as on all fours.
- Plaster casts of tracks allow students to see and touch ö twice the learning power.
- The "Safety in Bear Country" video clearly shows species similarities and differences.
Suggested Evaluation
- Show several pictures and ask students to identify the species in each. Pictures cut from outdoor magazines and safety brochures can be glued to a bristol board.
- Give descriptions of a bear's feature and ask students to tell the species.
Return to Bear Safety Workshop Table of Contents »
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