This week we studied all things birds with our nature study curriculum, Exploring Nature with Children. We are crazy about birds over at our house, so I thought I’d share our activities and resources here.
Bird Study Activities
Nest Building and Egg Painting
This spring craft is a bit messy but worth it! The boys each painted wooden eggs with acrylic paint (you could use any paint) and then using moss, twigs, string, yarn and rubber bands, they made a nest. A good book to go with this activity is Mama Built a Little Nest (listed below in Resources).
There are so many materials birds use in their nests – you could have the kids search your house for other items birds commonly use, like socks, feathers, hair, shoelaces – the list is practically endless.
The best thing about this craft? It doubles as a pretty Easter decoration!
Bird’s Nest Cookies
A fun and tasty way to celebrate the birds coming back for the season.
DIY Bird Feeders
Remember making these growing up?
Gather some cardboard toilet paper rolls, peanut butter, bird seed and some string and let the kids go at it. Sunflower butter works just as well if there are any peanut allergies.
If you wanted to make it into a “bird store” of sorts, you could also hang nest building materials in the toilet paper roll – string, shoelaces, etc. This is a fun spring craft to do with friends.
Bird Bingo
Such a fun way to learn about bird species and play at the same time!
Find the Bird Bingo Game on Amazon (it’s very affordable)
Bird Watching Nature Walk
Take the kiddos on a nature walk and look for birds flying back and forth to their nests. Listen to the new bird calls of spring, bring along a bird call identification guide and nature journals if you wish.
Resources
The Backyard Birdsong Guide – An absolute must-have! Our whole family has learned so much about birds just by keeping this book on our table by the window
Bird Feather Identification Cards by Chickie & Roo
Picture Books
**You can probably find most of these at your local library, but we try to add our favorites to the shelf, because ALWAYS more books!**
Have you Heard the Nesting Bird?
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