Bear Cave Hibernation Craft

Last Updated on July 14, 2025 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Put together a bear cave hibernation craft during your winter theme. Toddlers and preschoolers love this activity!

First of all, this craft is not my idea. It’s been around for decades. You might have done this when you were a kid!

But I love using classic ideas, what can I say?

Especially when my students enjoy them year after year.

After talking about how bears sleep a lot during the winter, and making our own large bear cave in the dramatic play area, we then make these simple but cute bear caves that include a bear family!

Watch: Our Classroom During the Hibernation Theme

Bear Cave Hibernation Craft

Supplies

Preparation for Step One

Cut an opening in the bowls as shown in the photo above.
Turn the “caves” (bowls) upside down and glue onto the plates.

This activity is done in two steps: Painting the cave and then adding the snow and the bears. We did this on two consecutive days.

Step One

Place the “caves” (paper bowls) on trays with the containers of paint and the paintbrushes.
Invite the children to paint their caves brown.
Let dry.
Turn the caves upside down and glue onto the plates.

Step Two

Have the children squeeze or brush glue on top of the cave and press the “snow” (cotton balls) on top. Note: I invited my students to first pull apart the cotton balls to have smaller pieces, as I thought this would be a fun fine motor addition. Some were more into it than others, which is why some caves have smaller pieces of “snow” and some have larger.
Ask the children to create a bear family out of the brown pom poms and place them inside the cave. (It was interesting that all of my students chose the same number of bears as the number of people in their immediate families.)

The bear caves are complete!

Bear Books

Make sure to read bear books before and after doing this bear cave craft to make it more meaningful! The children can hold these winter bear props while listening to the story.