11 Polar Bear Books for Kindergarten: Stories, Crafts, and Fun Activities

Polar bears are some of the most fascinating creatures in the animal kingdom, and young students absolutely love them! If you’re looking for a way to get your little learners excited about arctic animals while sneaking in some learning, polar bear books are a fantastic resource. From exploring the icy world they inhabit to learning about their behaviors, these books will have your kindergartners hooked. Plus, we’ve got some fun polar bear-themed activities to round out the experience! So, let’s jump into the 10 best polar bear books for kindergarten, when to use them, and a few crafts and activities your students will adore.

When Should Polar Bear Books be Incorporated into Kindergarten?

Winter is an obvious time to introduce polar bear books, but don’t limit yourself to the colder months! Polar bears can be used to teach lessons about arctic animals, the environment, and even big topics like climate change in a simple, kid-friendly way. 

You can create entire units around these magnificent animals, combining reading, hands-on crafts, and learning activities. Want to teach about the northern lights? Polar bears make a great tie-in! How about the idea of new friends and embracing differences? These bears have got you covered!

Ways to Use Polar Bear Books for Kindergarten in the Classroom

Integrating polar bear books into your kindergarten curriculum can be a fun and engaging way to teach a variety of concepts while sparking children’s imaginations. Here are some creative ways to utilize these books in your classroom:

Thematic Reading Centers

Create a polar bear-themed reading center where students can explore a variety of polar bear books. Include fiction and non-fiction titles to help them understand the differences between storybooks and informational texts. Encourage students to share what they’ve learned or their favorite parts with their peers. You could also create an acorn center, apple center, or pumpkin center for fall!

Interactive Storytime

Use interactive reading strategies during storytime. For instance, have students predict what will happen next, ask questions, or make connections to their own experiences. This encourages engagement and helps develop their comprehension skills.

Cross-Curricular Activities

Incorporate polar bear books into science lessons by discussing habitats, adaptations, and food chains. After reading, students can create a chart that compares polar bears to other animals from the Arctic, like Arctic foxes and snowy owls.

Writing Prompts

Use polar bear stories as inspiration for writing prompts. Ask students to write a short story about their own adventures with polar bears or how they would help polar bears in the wild. This encourages creativity and helps improve their writing skills.

By incorporating these strategies, polar bear books can enrich your classroom experience, fostering a love for reading while teaching important concepts about wildlife, ecosystems, and conservation.

11 Polar Bear Books for Kindergarten

Here’s a list of polar bear books that will bring the magic of polar bears to your classroom. These books were created by some of the world’s best publishers, and if you are looking to add some fun polar animal books to your classroom library, these are perfect.

Little Polar Bear by Hans de Beer  

Follow Lars, the main character, a little polar bear cub who goes on adventurous journeys. This book is part of a beloved series and makes a perfect addition to your Polar Bear children’s book collection.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.

A fun, repetitive story that helps develop language and listening skills. The playful sounds of polar animals in this story capture students’ attention instantly!

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett 

 A delightful twist on the classic Three Bears story featuring an Inuit girl and her encounter with a family of polar bears. It’s perfect for talking about Native American cultures and Arctic life.

Polar Bear Island by Lindsay Bonilla  

Kirby, the polar bear, learns to accept new animals on his island in this heartwarming story about community and acceptance, which is a great conversation starter about making new friends.

The Polar Bear by Jenni Desmond

Packed with facts about polar bears, this book blends beautiful art with informative text, making it both educational and entertaining for young readers. Plus, it’s filled with soft-colored illustrations that make polar bears look extra lovable!

A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett 

An imaginative book where readers follow a polar bear through the snowy Arctic. It’s a fun way to explore the polar bear’s habitat with your students.

Bad Bears in the Big City: An Irving & Muktuk Story by Daniel Pinkwater 

Irving and Muktuk arrive at the Bayonne, New Jersey, zoo from Yellowtooth in the frozen North, where they meet Roy, a polar bear who leaves every night when the zoo closes.

Polar Bear Rescue by Nancy Castaldo

This non-fiction book is perfect for teaching kids about real-life efforts to protect polar bears and their environment. It’s great for beginning discussions about climate change and why saving polar bears is so important.

Polar Bears Past Bedtime by Mary Pope Osborne

This is part of the beloved Magic Tree House series. In this story, Jack and Annie travel to the Arctic and learn about polar bears and other animals of the cold.

If Polar Bears Disappeared by Lily Williams

This non-fiction book explains the important role polar bears play in the Arctic ecosystem and what would happen if they disappeared due to climate change. The story uses simple, easy-to-understand language and beautiful illustrations to help young students grasp the concept of environmental impact. 

Polar Bears by Laura Marsh 

Part of the National Geographic Kids series, this non-fiction book is packed with stunning photographs and interesting facts about polar bears, making it a great resource for teaching young students about the life of these incredible creatures. 

Fun Polar Bear Activities to Go with the Books

When looking for a book companion activity, there are so many options, from crafts to sensory bins. Students can learn all about these incredible animals of the Arctic, create their own polar bear, enjoy an Arctic sensory bin, and so much more!

Polar Bear Craft with Toilet Paper Roll

A classic and super easy activity! After reading one of the polar bear books, let students make their own fluffy polar bear craft. Here’s what you’ll need:  

• Scissors
• Glue
• Black marker
• Black construction paper
• Craft rolls or Toilet paper rolls (wrapped in white paper/painted white)
• Polar bear body template (download it at the end of the post)

Print the polar bear body template and use scissors to cut out each body part. You can download the template by entering your email address into the form at the end of the post.

After, use the black marker to add details like paws and black circles for the eyes and ears.

Finally, glue the eyes onto the face and add in some cute details like a heart-shaped nose, mouth, and little freckles or whiskers.

You now have the cutest polar bear for students to enjoy.

Arctic Sensory Bin

Bring the Arctic to your classroom! Fill a sensory bin with cotton balls, white pom-poms, or even fake snow. Add some polar bear stuffed animals, arctic foxes, and snowy owls for a hands-on exploration of the Arctic. Let the students engage in imaginative play, where they can pretend their animals are searching for food or huddling together to stay warm.

Polar Bear Blubber Experiment  

Teach your students how polar bears stay warm in the icy Arctic! This simple science experiment mimics polar bear blubber. Students will be amazed to feel how much warmer the “blubber” makes their hand! This experiment pairs well with discussions about thick fur and polar bear adaptations.

Northern Lights Art Project

After reading about polar bears and the Arctic, introduce your students to the northern lights! Use chalk pastels on black construction paper to recreate this stunning natural phenomenon. Have the students draw polar bears beneath the lights for a beautiful art piece they can proudly display. This is a great way to bring some creativity into a polar animal book unit.

Virtual Field Trip to the Arctic

Take your students on a virtual field trip to learn more about the Arctic and polar bears in their natural habitat. There are many free resources online where students can watch polar bears in action, see the icy landscapes, and explore how scientists study these magnificent creatures.

With these books and activities, your little learners will be totally engaged while learning about polar bear cubs, the Arctic, and even climate change. Whether you’re diving into polar bear rescue efforts, playing in an arctic-themed sensory bin, or making a fluffy polar bear craft, these resources will keep your students excited about learning and exploring. Add these polar animal books to your collection, and get ready for an Arctic adventure!

Polar Bear Toilet Paper Roll Craft Template

Download the free craft template by entering your details into the form below. You will receive the template in your email.