Bird Watchers - Beaks, wings, feathers, nests, and eggs – this lesson is for the birds! Today we will learn all about these

winged wonders and discover what makes birds so special.

Guiding Questions: What are some characteristics of birds? What are birds doing in the springtime?

Intended Outcomes

As a result of the program, what I want my audience to FEEL… 1. Curious about birds. 2. Birds are cool! 3. Excited to learn about birds.

As a result of the program, what I want my audience to LEARN… 1. Birds have feathers. 2. Birds lay eggs. 3. Birds have wings and most can fly. 4. Most birds build nests.

As a result of the program, I want my audience to ACT by… 1. Read stories and sing songs about birds. 2. Look for birds outside. 3. Put out bird feeders at home to observe birds.

Materials:

Sensory Bin: Birdseed, toy birds, feathers, lunch sack nests, plastic eggs, cotton ball chicks, tweezers, sticks, pipe

cleaner worms

Art Station: mud/clay/playdough, sticks, grass, yarn, string, feathers, hay, fluff

Snack:

o Sweet- ¼ cup nut butter (peanut, cashew, almond, Sunbutter), 1 pkg chocolate chips, 3 cups chow mein

noodles, baking cups, muffin tins, jelly beans or candy eggs

o Savory- Ritz crackers, cream cheese, shredded carrots, craft stick/knife

Craft: Pine cones, cotton balls/pillow stuffing, colored paper, glue

o Additional options: leaves, pipe cleaners, googley eyes, acorn caps, paper fasteners

Schedule

ACTIVITY OUTCOMES

Sensory Play: Bird seed bin

Art/STEM Activity: Nest building

Collect materials from your yard and use the mud, clay, or playdough to create your very own nest!

F1, F2, L1, L2,

L3, L4, A1, A2,

A3

Storytime: In the Nest by Anna Millbourne F1, F2, L1, L2,

L3, L4, A1, A2,

A3

Snack:

Bird Tracks

*Use shredded carrots instead of chow mien noodles

Bird nests

You melt the chocolate and nutbutter in a saucepan. Add the Chow mein noodles until completely coated. Prepare to get messy now!! Once the chocolate is cool enough to touch allow your child to help you form the chow mein noodles into a nest. Add some jelly beans, Easter eggs…or marshmallows even. Once the snack has completely cooled enjoy it with your child!!!

F1, F2, L1, L2,

L3, L4, A1, A2,

A3

Activity: Birdie Says (Simon Says)

Flap your wings like an goose

Strut like a chicken

Quack like a duck

Waddle like a penguin

Stand on one leg like a flamingo

Soar like an eagle

Dive like a hawk

F1, F2, L1, L2,

L3, L4, A1, A2,

A3

Fun Bird Facts:

The egg of the hummingbird is the world's smallest bird's egg; the egg of the ostrich,

the world's largest.

NOT ALL BIRDS FLY! Penguins, ostriches, and dodo birds are all birds that do not fly.

All birds have feathers and birds are the only animals that do! - Soft down keeps

them warm, wing feathers allow flight and tail feathers are used for steering.

Birds are social – communicating by using visual cues and song.

Birds have hollow bones and no teeth to reduce their weight for flight

F1, F2, L1, L2,

L3, L4, A1, A2,

A3

Craft: Pine Cone Owl

Pull apart the cotton balls and/or fluff and weaver into the spaces. Use materials like leaves, pipe

cleaners to make wings. Use acorn caps, google eyes, paper pieces, pebbles, or paper fasteners to

make eyes and beak.

F1, F2, L1, L2,

L3, L4, A1, A2,

A3

Extension Activity: Bird Watching Bingo

See Bingo Board below

Spend some time outside bird watching and see if you can black out your bingo board.

F1, F2, L1, L2,

L3, L4, A1, A2,

A3

Extension Activity

Bird Watch Bingo

Mallard Duck

Robin Cardinal Chickadee Downy Woodpecker

Crow Turkey Vulture House Sparrow

Canada Goose

Mourning Dove

Red Tailed Hawk Red Winged Blackbird Goldfinch

Blue Jay White Breasted Nuthatch Dark eyed Junco