Teacher's Guide: At the Museum

Bear Behavior Challenge

Take the Bear Behavior Challenge!
Each of the questions listed below can be answered by exploring BEARS: Imagination and Reality.

Print, take to the Museum, and circle the correct answers.

1. In what ways do black bears differ from grizzly bears?
a. behavior
b. color
c. habitat
d. food preference
e. size
f. all of the above

2. In which state do black bears live?
a. Colorado
b. Washington
c. Oregon
d. Idaho
e. California
f. all of the above

3. During its winter sleep (winter lethargy) a bear will:
a. slow down its heart rate
b. nurse its cubs
c. sleep
d. eat and drink
e. all of the above

4. A good den site for a black bear could be:
a. inside an upturned tree
b. under a log
c. under a brush pile
d. in a natural cavity
e. under a rock ledge
f. all of the above

5. Scientists can study bears without actually seeing or touching them by examining:
a. scat
b. tree scrapings
c. tracks
d. all of the above

6. To protect yourself from a bear encounter while camping and hiking you can:
a. wash your dishes properly
b. pick up and properly store all trash and food scraps
c. hang your food out of reach
d. travel in groups
e. all of the above

7. Which of these are true bears?
a. koala bear
b. sloth bear
c. teddy bear
d. sun bear
e. panda bear
f. polar bear

Circle the correct true or false answer.

1. Bear cubs are born hairless.
true     false

2. Adult male bears den alone.
true     false

3. During winter sleep (winter lethargy) bears do not eat, drink, or defecate.
true     false

4. Adult female bears are the first to emerge from their dens in the spring.
true     false

5. Black bears are true hibernators.
true     false

6. Black bears and grizzly bears are omnivorous.
true     false

7. Bear cubs are usually born in June.
true     false

8. The koala bear is a true bear.
true     false

9. Bears breed at one and one-half years of age.
true     false

10. Black bears give birth to between one and four cubs.
true     false

11. Cubs always stay with a mother bear until their third summer.
true     false

12. Bears have a keen sense of sight.
true     false

13. Bears are slow runners.
true     false

14. Bears have a remarkable sense of smell.
true     false

15. Bears walk flat-footed, which is also called plantigrade.
true     false

Introduction

Exhibit Overview

Background Information

Vocabulary

At the Museum

Pre- and Post-visit Activities

Bibliography

Answers

Quiz: ©1990 The Science Museum of Minnesota

Teacher's Guide | Bears | Exhibits