DISCUSS:
Why do you think most birds lay their eggs in spring, and not other seasons?
DISCUSS:
Every spring, birds build nests. Why does a bird need a nest?
Can you think of ways having a nest helps a bird?
Red Robin follows the life of a robin from egg to bird.
It's Spring! and Spring Senses remind children of all the wonderful things that happen in springtime.
If you can take your students outside, go for a walk where you look and listen for birds. In an urban schoolyard, you might see sparrows and pigeons and crows. In a park pond, you’re likely to see ducks and geese and coots. There are birds almost everywhere, even in the middle of a city!
If you can’t go for a walk, consider setting up a window bird feeder for your classroom. Maybe the birds will come to you!
To give your students a close-up look at birds, check out the bird feeder cam, live from Cornell Labs in Ithaca, New York. Ask students questions about what they see.
The birds you see will depend on the season of the year, so consider checking the feeder cam at different times of the year.
In this lesson, students learn why spring is the best time for babies to be born. In the activity, Build A Bird Nest, students make a model of a bird nest and notice how birds can change their environment to meet their needs when they build their nests.
Preview activity
Blank Paper (8.5 x 11")
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1 sheet per student |
Crayons
Colored pencils will also work.
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Details
3 crayons per student
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Scissors
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1 pair per student |
Soft Materials
Students will use these to pad their nest.
You can use tissue paper, facial tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, cotton balls, or even scraps of fabric or yarn.
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Details
3 items per student
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Paper Lunch Bags
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1 bag per student |
We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own.
Students will be lining their paper bird nests with tissue paper and/or other soft material. If you have a high tolerance for chaos, you can put these materials at different stations around the room — and have your students “fly” to the stations to gather their materials. It’s fun, but chaotic.
We also suggest encouraging students to modify the materials you provide -- tearing and crumpling them to make them fit in their nest. That’s what birds do, after all!
If you have a supply of pompoms, consider surprising each student with a pompom “egg” for their nest! We think 1-inch pompoms are about the right size for a paper bag nest.
Coming soon: a visual slideshow for students!
Teacher printout: English & Spanish
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
Online picture books about birds and springtime!
Red Robin follows the life of a robin from egg to bird.
It's Spring! and Spring Senses remind children of all the wonderful things that happen in springtime.
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
Go Bird Watching!
If you can take your students outside, go for a walk where you look and listen for birds. In an urban schoolyard, you might see sparrows and pigeons and crows. In a park pond, you’re likely to see ducks and geese and coots. There are birds almost everywhere, even in the middle of a city!
If you can’t go for a walk, consider setting up a window bird feeder for your classroom. Maybe the birds will come to you!
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
Watch A Live Bird Cam!
To give your students a close-up look at birds, check out the bird feeder cam, live from Cornell Labs in Ithaca, New York. Ask students questions about what they see.
The birds you see will depend on the season of the year, so consider checking the feeder cam at different times of the year.
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