A Thanksgiving STEAM Storytime Challenge with “Bear Says Thanks”

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to teach preschoolers about gratitude, community, and collaboration. One way to do this is through a fun and hands-on STEAM challenge inspired by the picture book Bear Says Thanks, by Karma Wilson. 

In this heartwarming story, Bear wants to throw a feast for his friends, but he finds that his cupboards are empty. However, with the help of his friends, they come together to share food and celebrate a cozy meal together.

Using this theme of sharing and gratitude, you can introduce a quick engineering challenge where children design and build a “Thanksgiving Table” for Bear and his friends using simple materials. This activity encourages problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork—all key elements of STEAM learning. 

Step 1: Read Bear Says Thanks
Start by reading Bear Says Thanks to your preschoolers. As you read, discuss how Bear’s friends share what they have to create a meal together. This helps set the tone for the importance of gratitude and working as a team.

Guiding Questions:

• “How did Bear’s friends help him when he had no food?”
• “Why do you think it’s important to share what we have?”
• “How can we work together to solve problems like Bear and his friends did?”

Step 2: The Engineering Challenge – Build a Thanksgiving Table

Objective:
Create a sturdy “Thanksgiving Table” for Bear and his friends using simple materials like blocks, cardboard, popsicle sticks, or paper cups. The table should be strong enough to hold small pretend food items or lightweight objects.

Materials:

• Blocks or cardboard pieces (for the table surface)
• Popsicle sticks, paper rolls, or plastic cups (for the table legs)
• Tape or glue
• Small objects to represent food (cotton balls, pom-poms, or small toys)

Instructions:

1. Brainstorm and Plan: Encourage the children to discuss what they think makes a strong table. Ask questions like, “What shape should the table be?” and “How can we make sure it doesn’t fall over?”
2. Build: Let the children experiment with different materials to create their table. They might use paper rolls or cups for the legs and cardboard for the top, or they may stack blocks to create their design.
3. Test: Once the table is built, test its strength by placing small pretend food items on top. Can it hold everything? If the table collapses, encourage them to try again and make improvements.

STEAM Experience:

• Engineering: Children use critical thinking to design and build a structure that can support weight.
• Math: Encourage counting and measuring as they compare the height or size of their table.
• Collaboration: Like Bear and his friends, preschoolers will work together to build a shared project, learning the value of teamwork.

Step 3: Reflect on Gratitude and Sharing

After completing the engineering challenge, come back together and discuss what they built. Ask them to reflect on how they worked as a team and how they felt when they shared ideas or materials. Tie this discussion back to the story of Bear Says Thanks and how everyone contributing something small can lead to something great.

Reflection Questions:

• “What was the best part of building our table?”
• “How did we help each other during this challenge?”
• “What are you thankful for about today’s activity?”

This quick Thanksgiving STEAM challenge blends literature, engineering, and creativity while emphasizing the values of gratitude and teamwork. Through building and problem-solving, children will not only enhance their understanding of structures but also experience the joy of working together—just like Bear and his friends. Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate sharing, and this activity provides the perfect opportunity to bring that spirit into your classroom.