Teddy Bears
Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic…
The music* from the popular song, 'The Teddy Bears’ Picnic' (originally the Teddy Bear Two-Step) has been around since 1907. The lyrics* were added 27 years later and its popularity inspired the idea of an actual teddy bears’ picnic – a picnic where you bring along your teddy bear and play teddy bear-inspired games and eat teddy-bear inspired foods.
Dolls and teddy bears were important guests at tea parties and picnics long before the popularity of the famous song. A tea party or picnic is so much more fun when shared with friends and, the more the merrier!
Focus questions
- Have you been to a teddy bears picnic? What teddy bear themed food did you eat?
- Look closely at the dates of the photographs on this page. Are there any photographs taken before the 1930’s, when The Teddy Bears’ Picnic song became popular?
- Why do you think dolls and teddy bears make popular guests at a tea party or picnic?
- When were teddy bears invented? Who are they named after?
- Look at a series of teddy bear pictures. How have teddy bears changed over time?
*The Teddy Bear Two-Step was written in 1907 by John W. Bratton. The lyrics were added in 1930 by Jimmy Kennedy and the song renamed, 'The Teddy Bears’ Picnic'. (via Wikipedia)
