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Tear Bears*

Lesson Plan Submitted by Suzanne Thomas, Elementary Art Teacher at Pleasant View Elementary, Springfield, MO

MonaGrades: Kindergarten - First Grade

Materials:

  • 12" x 18" manila paper--1 sheet per student (or use construction paper)
  • Glue
  • Brown craft paper or brown construction paper--approx. 12" x 18"
  • Crayons


image submitted by Patti Caiola 2004 - Kindergarten level - Reynolds Elementary School in Toledo, OH

Procedure: This is one of my very favorite art projects! I usually do this at the beginning of the school year before I'm ready to have my young students use scissors.

Discuss with the students how we as artists can use shapes to create a bear (I bring my teddy bears with me to school). The bear's tummy is the largest part so we start with it. Tear a rectangle from the brown craft paper. Get rid of all smooth edges so that we will all have "furry and fuzzy" bears. Tear off the corners to make the rectangle into an oval. Glue the tummy to the center of the manila paper (or construction paper). Make a smaller oval for the head, two half circles for ears, and four rectangles for arms and legs.

It is important for the teacher to demonstrate how the students can not make a mistake by tearing the paper--smaller pieces can be glued together to make an arm, leg, etc.

Once the bear's body has been glued on, encourage the students to give the bear an expression on his/her face, a vest, a dress, a bow tie, etc. with crayons. Students may also make a background on the manila paper.

Optional:

Add other toy shapes with scrap construction paper. 

Optional:

Open this lesson up to ALL kinds of fuzzy animals. Let the student CHOOSE what kind of fuzzy animal to make. Have all sorts of colors available. 

Note: Someone is trying to trademark "tear bear" now. If your students make a bear/teddy bear, send email to the trademark owner asking permission to display the ORIGINAL work of your children - who came up with idea on their own. Students have a right to create a "tear bear" if that is what they wish. Freedom of Expression trumps trademark. Teach them a mini lesson about trademark law. 

As suggested by Maureen Morris:

One solution: when doing the lesson, suggest numerous animals that can be
created through torn paper collage. Teddy bears, grizzly bears and black/brown bears can be several among many. Pictures of real life animals can be used as reference.

Note from Judy Decker:

*Torn Paper Bear Collage. This lesson was submitted to Incredible Art Department in 1996 or 1997. The lesson has been around a very long time. I did the same lesson in 1990 with my kindergarteners. The lesson idea can not be trademarked or copyrighted. The wording of this lesson is copyright 1996 or 1997. No violation of trademark is intended. Back ups of this lesson can be found dating to 1999). Linda White first did this lesson in the 1970's. 

Include a lesson in Trademark law. Each student will come up with a name for their bear (animal) and will submit it to you for Trademark. Put the time they submitted it on the slip of paper. Students with same names will have to challenge the person who submitted it first and will have to prove that they came up with the idea first - or simply change the name of their bear to something that has not been chosen. Present a mini lesson about Trademark. Mickey Mouse, for instance, is trademarked and copyrighted.

*Tear Bear is a trademark owned by Teddy Bear Treasures. Incredible Art Department is home of the original online Tear Bears and is not affiliated with Teddy Bear Treasures.

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