Look!

There's a Bear in My Sandwich!

B.E.A.R stands for

Be Excited About Reading!

Mrs. Diane Baldus, Newbearys - a Bright Star Promotions' teddy bear show artist and Justice's grandmother, handcrafted a teddy bear for Mrs. Cortney's 3rd grade classroom.

Students can get a bear hug from the bear or read to the  bear during class.

The bear wears a necklace with a bear-shaped stone much like the Native Americans do. The Native Americans view the bear as a very strong and powerful animal symbol.

"Diane visited the classroom at the beginning of March and had the students create their own classroom pattern for the bear. With the hand made patterns of the head, hands, feet, ears, etc. she took it home and hand made our bear", said Cortney.

"Today she came to visit our classroom to unveil our bear and present him to our class. She read us a story! She presented the newly made bear and we all got a big bear hug. Then, we celebrated with a bear lunch!

Diane spent a lot of time designing the lunch and assembling it."

A Real B.E.A.R Lunch Box

Menu included:

• A brown and white bread with bear; turkey sandwich.

• Carrot sticks and ranch
  
  
• Dried berries

• Goldfish crackers
  
  
• Teddy bear Graham Crackers
  
  
• A Chicago bears napkin
  
  
• A bottle of water!

Diane was so generous by giving of her time and creativity to the class as March was Reading Month.

The students were extremely happy about the special lunch and bear project. They will all have a special memory to keep forever!