The beloved book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt was rewritten by the children in my home daycare. Today was a beautiful day in the Academy, filled with exploration, imagination, and deep thinking. We started with a book that sparks creativity—What Do You Do with an Idea?—and followed it with We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, a classic adventure story that always captivates the children.
Miss Sue holding the books We Are Going On a Bear Hunt and What Do You Do With An Idea
As we reached the end of Bear Hunt, the children noticed that the bear looked sad. Their little hearts were full of empathy, and they began to wonder why.
“Maybe the bear was hungry,” one child said.
“But if he caught the family, he would eat them,” another added, looking concerned.
“So, do we want the bear to be sad, or do we want the family to be eaten?” I asked. The looked perplexed – eyes bulging and all said no. They don’t want the bear to eat the people.
Then, we began to explore possibilities. I asked, “What if the bear went fishing instead?” One child excitedly responded, “Yes, bears eat fish!” I asked what kind of fish bears eat, and another child said, “Salmon.” Then, a child looked at me and said, “Miss Sue, your name is Salmon!” I smiled and nodded. In addition I pointed to the seaside the bear walked and acknowledged that maye the water had some salmon – it wasn’t necessary to talk about ocean versus other water body for salmon.
Another child had a different idea. “What if the bear wasn’t trying to eat the family but, he was happy and trying to play with them and they didn’t know?”
The sad bear walking the seashore
This was a turning point in our discussion. I slowed down enough for them to build a new version of this beloved story. We took these imaginative ideas and rewrote the ending of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Now, the bear wasn’t sad—he was simply looking for friends or catching fish by the seaside. The children’s new version of the story was taped inside the book, forever becoming part of our reading experience.
The Bear Hunt got a new ending
This is the heart of our learning—rich conversations, open-ended exploration, and nurturing big ideas rather than relying on worksheets or hurrying through our day. Books are the vehicle imagination, problem-solving, and deep discussions.
And just like What Do You Do with an Idea? reminds us, ideas are gifts. Not everyone will understand them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable and divinely yours. Today, I encouraged the children to honor their ideas, share them with confidence, and see the beauty in thinking differently.
What would you do with a big idea? Let’s keep dreaming, exploring, and rewriting stories together.
Until next time I am Miss Sue your educator in the trenches with you.
