We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Song/Skit

You might be familiar with the catchy children’s song “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.” The song was popularized by the book of the same name, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. But the song itself has been around for much longer than the book – it’s actually a traditional chant that has been adapted into a song over the years.

The premise of the song is simple: a group of adventurers set out on a bear hunt. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles – long grass, a river, mud, and so on – but they bravely press on. Finally, they come face to face with a bear, and they run back home as fast as they can.

What makes the song so much fun is the exaggerated actions that accompany each verse. For example, when the adventurers encounter long grass, they say “Swishy swashy!” and pretend to push through the grass. When they come to a river, they say “Splash splosh!” and pretend to wade through the water. And when they finally meet the bear, they say “Uh-oh!” and run back the way they came.

The song is a great way to get kids moving and using their imaginations. It’s also a fun way to teach them about storytelling and sequencing. As they sing the song and act out the different parts, they’re learning how to tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end. And as they follow along with the actions, they’re developing their gross motor skills and coordination.

If you’re looking for a fun activity to do with your Scout, try singing “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” and acting out the different parts. You can even make it into a game by hiding a stuffed bear somewhere in the house or yard and pretending to find it at the end of the hunt. The possibilities are endless!

“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” is a timeless classic that has been entertaining children for generations. Whether you’re reading the book or singing the song, it’s a fun and interactive way to engage kids and encourage their creativity. So why not grab a group of friends or family members and go on a bear hunt today?

The song is typically sung as a repeat after me song, with a leader saying a line, and then everyone repeating it back. Exaggerate the actions, and feel free to add more.

Listen to it here to learn the tune.

We’re going on a bear hunt.
We’re going to catch a big one.
We’re not afraid.
It’s a beautiful day!

Uh-uh!
Grass!
Swishy-wishy grass.
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
Oh no!
We’ve got to go through it!

Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! [pretend like you are pushing your way through tall grass]

We’re going on a bear hunt.
We’re going to catch a big one.
We’re not afraid.
It’s a beautiful day!

Uh-uh!
A river!
A cold dark river.
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
Oh no!
We’ve got to go through it!

Splash splosh! Splash splosh! Splash splosh! [pretend like you are wading through water]

We’re going on a bear hunt.
We’re going to catch a big one.
We’re not afraid.
It’s a beautiful day!

Uh-uh!
Mud!
Icky-gicky mud.
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
Oh no!
We’ve got to go through it!

Squelch squerch! Squelch squerch! Squelch squerch! [pretend like you are squishing and squelching through thick mud]

We’re going on a bear hunt.
We’re going to catch a big one.
We’re not afraid.
It’s a beautiful day!

Uh-uh!
A forest!
A tall, tall forest.
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
Oh no!
We’ve got to go through it!

Stumble trip! Stumble trip! Stumble trip! [pretend like you trip while hiking through the forest]

We’re going on a bear hunt.
We’re going to catch a big one.
We’re not afraid.
It’s a beautiful day!

Oh look, a snow storm!
A cold cold snow storm.
We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it.
Ohhh NO!
We gotta go through it.

Hoooo woooo! Hoooo woooo! Hoooo woooo! [pretend like snow is whirling around]

We’re going on a bear hunt.
We’re going to catch a big one.
We’re not afraid.
It’s a beautiful day!

Uh-uh!
A cave!
A tiny little cave.
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
Oh no!
We’ve got to go through it!

Tiptoe, tiptoe! Tiptoe, tiptoe! [pretend like you are tiptoeing through the cave]

Oh, what’s that?
Two big fuzzy ears
Two big googly eyes
One big mouth…
Ahhhhhhhhhh!
It’s a BEARRRRRR!

[repeat all of the actions on the return journey]

Quick!
Back through the cave! Tiptoe, tiptoe!
Back through the snowstorm! Hoooo woooo!
Back through the forest! Stumble trip!
Back through the mud! Squelch squerch!
Back through the river! Splash splosh!
Back through the grass! Swishy swashy!

Get to our front door.
Open the door.
Up the stairs.
Oh no!
We forgot to shut the door!

Back down the stairs.
Shut the door.
Up the stairs.
Into the room.
Under the bed.
Phew!
We’re not going on a bear hunt again!

Click here to download a printable PDF copy of the lyrics.