Official Site of The State of New Jersey
The following lesson plans are available for educators to download and use in the classroom. These plans are aligned with current New Jersey Learning Standards (NJLS) and are designed to incorporate black bear biology and ecology into structured lessons in subjects such as Science, Mathematics, English Language Arts, Visual and Performing Arts, and Social Studies.
New Jersey Black Bears Teacher’s Companion
This guide provides teachers with information about New Jersey’s black bears, including details about their history in the state, biology, research, and management.
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A Year in the Life of a NJ Black Bear
Students will create a 12-month calendar that features a different illustration for each month, based on what New Jersey black bears are doing during that time.
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Bears and Human Foods
Students will conduct a research project to gain an understanding of how their school’s garbage is handled, and what changes they could make to help prevent conflicts between wildlife and people.
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Can You Fit?
Construct a model black bear den, based off of real measurements from the dens of bears NJ Fish and Wildlife Staff have handled!
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How Do We Measure Up to Bears?
Students will learn about black bear biology while employing math and computer skills to compare the growth and development of bears to that of humans.
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Mother Bear Charades
Students will learn about black bear biology while engaging their bodies in fun movement activities.
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Tooth and Consequence
By comparing skulls from NJ native species, students will identify the form-function relationship in dentition and explain what characteristics of a black bear’s skull reveal its omnivorous lifestyle.
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What is an Omnivore?
Through a hands-on food collection activity, students will learn what an omnivore is and why New Jersey’s black bears rely on both plants and animals in their diet.
