Kid's activities

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Small World Activity

Posted on by Claire
Updated on
A miniature bear figurine stands on a white rock surrounded by larger stones, moss, and greenery, set inside a cardboard box to mimic a natural habitat. Overlaid text reads “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Small World,” indicating a themed small world play setup inspired by the children’s story.
06
Feb

Do your children love the We’re going on a bear hunt story? If so they’ll love this We’re going on a bear hunt small world activity. This is a simple craft to make the small world and then children can have loads of fun playing with the small world afterwards. Find more Nature activities for kids here.

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Why you’ll love this We’re going on a bear hunt small world activity

This is a gorgeous book inspired activity that your kids will love as it will bring one of their favourite stories to life. They’ll be learning through play which is so important at a young age. There are sensory elements, fine motor skills and imaginative play.

Children can help set this small world up before play or you can surprise them with it. You could even involve your child in finding all the natural materials you need on a family walk or in your own back yard. My kids love collecting nature on walks.

A hand reaches into an open cardboard box and holds a small brown animal figurine near the center. Green moss covers the bottom edge of the box and spills onto a white tabletop with ivy leaves scattered across it. A large tan rock sits on the left inside the box and a smooth white stone sits on the right.

What you need to create your own we’re going on a bear hunt small world

The main thing you are going to need is a bear figure and a cardboard box (perhaps a shoe box). Everything else that you need can be collected on a nature hike or walk.

  • Small cardboard box
  • Toy bear
  • Moss 
  • Small rocks 
  • Leaves 
  • Optional: twigs, ivy, or small branches
A small brown animal figurine stands on a smooth white stone surrounded by natural elements including moss, ivy vines, and assorted rocks. The scene appears staged on a white surface with a cardboard box in the background, suggesting a nature inspired or miniature display setup. The image highlights texture contrast between the soft greenery, rough stones, and the tiny carved figure.

You might also like this bear hunt felt map.

Close up of an open cardboard box with green moss covering the bottom edge and spilling onto a white surface. Several smooth stones sit inside the box and a small brown animal figurine stands on a white stone in the center. An ivy vine with green leaves rests along the right side of the moss.
Yield: 1

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Small World Activity

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: easy
No Ratings

Materials

  • Small cardboard box
  • Toy bear
  • Moss
  • Small rocks
  • Leaves
  • Optional: twigs, ivy, or small branches

Instructions

    1. Start with a small cardboard box and stand it up on its side so it creates a cave or shelter shape. This will become the bear’s home.
    2. Place rocks inside the box to create a natural-looking den. Add a small toy bear and position it among the rocks. Close up of the inside corner of an open cardboard box on a white tabletop. Several smooth stones rest against the box wall on top of a thick layer of green moss that spills out onto the table. A trailing ivy vine with green leaves lies to the right of the moss.
    3. Arrange moss around the outside of the box, spreading it along the base to create grassy ground and texture. Close up of an open cardboard box on a white tabletop with several clumps of bright green moss spread in front of it. A small sprig of ivy and two light colored stones sit off to the right edge of the frame.
    4. Add leaves, small sticks, or vines around the outside to extend the scene and make it feel like a forest setting. A miniature woodland scene shows a small brown bear figurine inside a cardboard box structure surrounded by green moss, ivy vines, and smooth stones. The moss covers the foreground like forest ground while rocks are stacked along the back wall.
    5. Invite kids to retell or act out parts of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt using the small world setup, moving the bear and exploring the scene as the story unfolds.
© Claire
Project Type: Nature craft / Category: Kid's activities

Benefits of this We’re going on a bear hunt small world play

There are so many learning opportunities packed into this book-inspired play activity. It’s also one of those lovely learning through play activities where it just feels like “playing,” not learning.

Here’s what your child is building through the activity without even realising:

Encourages storytelling and story retelling – Perfect for children who love We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, as they’ll naturally recreate parts of the story in their own way.

A small brown bear figurine stands on a bed of green moss with ivy vines trailing across a white surface. Large stones and the edge of a cardboard box frame the scene, creating a miniature woodland setting.

Builds imaginative play and creative thinking – There are so many ways your child can play with this small world. They can play out the original story or they can invent new scenes, change the order of events, or even add their own “adventures” to the story.

Supports language development – Narration, sound effects, and chatting about what’s happening helps to grow your child’s vocabulary and confidence with speaking.

A child’s hand places a small brown bear figurine onto a smooth white stone inside a cardboard box diorama. Green moss covers the ground with scattered rocks creating a miniature forest scene.

Strengthens fine motor skills – Picking up, placing, and moving small items gives little fingers a great workout. Fine motor skills are the important work that will eventually support there hand to write.

Offers lots of sensory experiences – Natural textures like moss, rocks, and leaves make the play feel extra immersive and engaging. There are different textures to touch as well as the smells that natural materials have.

Creates a calm, hands-on link between books and play – This is a gentle activity that brings the story to life and encourages a love of reading. Find more ways to encourage your child to read here.

Supervision reminder

Always supervise young children during this activity to make sure they don’t put any of these natural elements in their mouths. It’s also a good idea to wash their hands after playing with it.

A collage of three small world play scenes features a brown bear figurine among natural elements like rocks, moss, and leafy vines, mimicking an outdoor environment. Each image shows the bear in a different position, emphasizing exploration. Text at the bottom reads “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Small World,” tying the scenes to the children's story theme.

More kid’s activities you’ll love

If your child loves bears and other animals they may enjoy these artic animal crafts.

Another great activity using natural materials is this bug hunt sensory bin.

This forest sensory bin is another great sensory nature bin.

Claire

Claire is a mum to two girls who love spending time outdoors on family walks, days out and camping trips in their family campervan. Find out more about us here

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