Make A Paper Bag Bear Den for Small World Play

To make your own paper bag bear den, you’ll need:

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How to Make Miniature Paper Bag Bear Dens – DIY Instructions:

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating a miniature bear cave using a paper bag, perfect for sparking imaginative small-world nature play in kids.

Cut apart a paper bag and glue the two halves together.

Cut open your paper bag, trim off the bottom and any handles, and spread it open – printed side up. Brush with glue (I used school glue and brushed it to the edges with a foam brush).

Fold the paper bag in half.

Fold the bag in half and give the glue about 5 minutes to set before moving on to step 3.

Scrunch and soften your paper bag.

Gently roll, twist, and scrunch the paper bag to soften it. This gives it a great rocky cave-like appearance, but also makes it easier to shape.

Form around a bowl to shape.

You can use a small to medium-sized bowl as a form for your cave. Mold your paper bag around the sides of the bowl, folding as needed (a bit like wrapping an awkward present).

Glue for stability (optional).

Take your shaped paper bag off of the bowl and use a hot glue gun to glue the folded sides in place.

Finish with Mod Podge to stiffen.

To help your cave keep its shape, brush the top with a coat of Mod Podge or clear school glue. Once dry to the touch (typically after 10 minutes, but you can use a hairdryer to speed it up), flip it over, and do a quick brush of Mod Podge on the inside as well.

Paint the miniature cave (optional).

The brown paper bag is a fine color for a bear den, so you can skip painting, OR try adding some extra color and texture as we did.

Brush or sponge paint onto your cave, then let dry. We brushed on a layer of dark grey acrylic paint, then dapped a lighter gray over top with a sponge.

Make your own set of clay bears! (optional)

You may have a set of miniature toy bears or wooden bears you play with, but for a *bonus* art activity, you can try sculpting your own set of bears.

These two chonky bears were made with polymer clay and baked (only because I had some I wanted to use up). You could use air-dry clay or modeling clay instead, it will just take a bit longer to dry.

Whatever clay you use, you can finish by painting with watercolors or acrylic paints. Our bears actually came out of the oven with some cool color markings, so I opted to skip any paint and enjoy the lovely natural color.

Build a miniature bear habitat.

Half the fun of any small world is putting it together, right? A combination of miniature pine trees, bottlebrush trees, and natural materials from the backyard gave us the exact autumn and winter landscapes we were looking for.

Using Your Miniature Caves for Learning and Play

1. Use your paper bag cave to discuss animal hibernation and habitats.

We typically think of bears as the quintessential “hibernators,” but did you know some bears (polar bears, for example) don’t hibernate over winter? Although they DO have dens, they don’t need to hibernate due to how they’ve evolved, with their thick white coats and how their bodies store energy.

You can use your dens to discuss which bears hibernate when they head in, and how they know it’s time to wake up for spring. Explore the spaces bears use for dens and how they stay warm all winter. And there’s no need to stick to bears!

Maybe you’ve made a paper bag fox den or winter home for wolves (two more animals that have adapted to winter and don’t need to hibernate).

2. Create a role-playing or storytelling opportunity with your miniature cave.

Children can enact stories or create their own tales using the paper bag den and a toy bear or bear figurines, enhancing their creativity and storytelling abilities while reinforcing their knowledge of bear behavior.

You can add small accessories to your scenes to create more storytelling opportunities. Things like a flameless tea light to use as a campfire inside your bear cave, a paper or glass bead river, or cotton balls or felt to use as snow.

As another variation, kids can put on a fall woodland puppet show using cut-out bear shapes as stick puppets or shadow puppets.

3. Make a paper bag cave for fall sensory exploration.

Fill your miniature den with different natural materials, like leaves, pine cones, or faux fur, and let children reach in without looking, describing what they feel. This activity can help improve sensory skills and descriptive vocabulary.

4. Play hibernation hide-and-seek with your bear den.

Create a miniature nature scene, complete with your mini bear cave, fall leaves, felt pieces, or other fall small-world play accessories. Gather some toy animals and hide them under the leaves, in the cave, or wherever animals may naturally hibernate.

Invite kids to guess what kinds of animals they might find and where they might be, then let them search around the small scene to find each one.

You can also try a life-sized version of this (…see below!) and have kids role-play specific animals while one person goes on a hibernation search to find everyone.

5. Make a life-sized bear den.

Once you’ve finished building your cave small worlds, make life-sized bear dens with a big cardboard box (here’s a good example) or blankets and pillows like this cool under-the-table bear lair.

Picture Books to Pair With Bear Hibernation Play

This mini bear cave is a wonderful prop for “bookish” play and pairs well with any of these lovely picture books about the hibernation habits of bears…

Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains Woodpeckers Crafts, Etsy, Blick Art Materials, Bookshop.org and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As affiliates (and Amazon Associates), we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*

• Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson: This story showcases a bear’s winter hibernation and unexpected guests who visit him. It’s a charming tale about friendship and sharing, ideal for teaching kids about empathy and the concept of hibernation in animals.
• Winter Lullaby by Dianne White: This book guides readers through the changing seasons and how different animals adapt to winter. It’s a great way to inspire children’s curiosity about the natural world and the cycles of life.
• A Bed for Bear by Clive McFarland: A bear seeks the perfect spot to hibernate in this delightful story. This book will help children understand the importance of comfort, safety, and the idea of ‘home’, emphasizing the concept of hibernation in a fun, accessible way.
• Hibernation Hotel by John Kelly: This funny story involves a bear trying to get some sleep at a busy hotel. Reading this book to kids will incite laughter while subtly teaching them about the importance of rest and the challenges of hibernation.
• Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky: This naturalistic book depicts a bear’s annual journey into the forest to hibernate. It’s a wonderful tool for teaching kids about seasonal animal behaviors and fostering a respect for nature.
• Bears Make Rock Soup by Lisa Fifield and Lise Erdich: This warm collection of Native American tales is a perfect fall-to-winter read, filled with stories of animals preparing for winter that subtly departs harmonious messages of unity, collaboration, and community.
• Bear and Wolf by Daniel Salmieri: This book follows a bear and a wolf as they traverse the winter woods together. It encourages children to appreciate the beauty of nature, the passing of time, and the value of unlikely friendships.
• Sleepover with Beatrice & Bear by Monica Carnesi: This story showcases the bond between a rabbit and a bear and their first sleepover. It’s ideal for teaching kids about the true meaning of friendship and understanding different sleeping habits in animals.
• Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! by Maureen Wright: A delightful tale about a bear who keeps misunderstanding his cue to hibernate. It’s a fun, educational story that can help children understand the concept of hibernation and the importance of listening.
• Old Bear by Kevin Henkes: In this story, an old bear dreams about his life through the seasons while hibernating. It is a touching tale that can help children understand aging, the passing of time, and the cycle of life.
• Good Night, Baby Bear by Frank Asch: An old classic that follows a bear cub who is afraid of the dark but learns that there’s nothing to fear. It’s an excellent bedtime story to comfort children and teach them about bravery.
• Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead: In this heartfelt tale, a bear helps his friends prepare for winter while hoping to share a story. This book promotes themes of patience, friendship, and helpfulness, making it a lovely read for children.