On the Hunt for AAC Core Vocabulary
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen is about a family crossing various terrains in search of a bear. The text is rhythmic and is well-suited for incorporating movement and gestures into your story time. With your child’s AAC system, you can model core words like “go” as well as “where” and “there” as you read. You might say “Where is the bear?… Not there” and “I wonder where they will go next”.
Here are some more activities for targeting core vocabulary…
Gross Motor Activities
Story Reenactment
After finishing the book, go back and act it out. Pretend to go across the river, through the forest and in the cave, just like the family in the story. Model “Let’s go!” before moving through each landscape.
Bear Hide and Seek
Hide a stuffed bear and help the child look for it. Look under a table, on a shelf, in a basket, etc. Model “it’s not there” and “let’s go this way!”.
Tunnel
The phrase “we have to go through it” is repeated many times in We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Keep that theme going with a collapsible tunnel.
Sensory
My go-to? Bubbles. Talk about where to blow the bubbles (e.g., up, down, etc.) then model “ready, set… go!”.
Stickers
Get some stickers (preferably bears) and ask “where should they go?”.
Snack
Bear Paws cookies come in a variety of flavors and are perfect for pairing with the book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Model “go” as you pretend to make them walk from the box to the plate and from the plate to the child’s mouth.
Daily Routines and Activities
Highlight core vocabulary in your conversations (e.g., “go ahead”, “where are my glasses?”, “let’s sit over there”).
More Core Vocabulary Resources
Go to my Teachers Pay Teachers store to find more core vocabulary resources.
