Winter Dramatic Play Idea with a Bear Cave

Last Updated on December 26, 2021 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: We created a winter dramatic play idea to learn about how bears sleep during the winter. We accompanied this with an adorable paper plate bear art activity!

We love to use our dramatic play area for acting out ideas connected to our current theme. After reading one of our favorite books, Bear Snores On, we put together a winter dramatic play idea with a bear cave.

We added a great big stuffed bear along with smaller stuffed animals. Since we read the book prior to turning our dramatic play area into a bear’s den, the children were ready to role play what happened in the book.

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Winter Dramatic Play Idea with a Bear Cave

So much learning can take place through play. The dramatic play area is especially popular because the children can use their imaginations as they act out various scenes. When they can tie it in with something they recently experienced in real life, or a book we just read, it becomes that much more meaningful.

I cannot take the credit for this year’s bear’s den. My creative co-teacher decorated a big box, complete with fiberfill on the top to mimic snow. She displayed photos of real bears and we had bear picture books nearby.

We asked the children to bring in a favorite stuffed animal. As they arrived, they placed their animals in a basket near the den.

And that’s when they noticed a great big bear sleeping in the cave, just like in the book. To say they were excited is an understatement!

After our morning meeting, we invited the children to visit the den. They pulled the bear out and brought their own animals into the den. They pretended to be sleeping, waking up, leaving the den, and returning.