I have vivid memories of red cardinals visiting the birds feed during the whitest and shortest days of the winter season. The vibrant red ricocheted off the glistening white of newly fallen snow.
Always fascinated with the adaptation of these birds, I studied birds over the years through observation mainly. I always anticipated spring with nests, eggs, and eventual chirping.
I recently began homeschooling my youngest son. At 4-years-old his schooling with me is limited to max two hours a day. Then we're out and about exploring when I carefully observe him as he develops interests in various topics.
One such topic, much to my delight, is birds.
So, of course, like any Montessori trained homeschooling mother would do, I began making materials as we read about birds, their beaks, their nests, their feet, and their sounds.
Related Read: Bird Feeding At Home & In the Classroom
Take time to listen to birds' calls and talk about how the sound makes you feel, why the sound is what it is, and so on. Then, go out for a walk and see if you can hear a bird's call. Then discuss the rhyme and reason behind the call. Listening activities are a big hit with kids and will engage them in the learning process. There are amazing apps put out by the Audubon Society that will add a great deal to the learning & teaching in your homeschool.
Types of Birds Beaks
The shapes, sizes, & functionality of birds' beaks will spark an interest in your child. You can lean into your child's personality. Is he a gentle, nectar sipping hummingbird or a carnivorous raptor such as the bald eagle, or maybe a “chisler” like the woodpecker? Find that hook and go with it.
Montessori 3-Part-Card – Types of Beaks
Types of Bird Nests
Equally as fascinating is how a bird creates his nest, the why, the how, and the where…
Montessori 3-Part-Cards – Types of Nests
Montessori Bird Activities, Ideas, and Resources
- Best Adapted Beaks from Scientific America
- 15 Birds with Unbelievable Beaks
- Scientific Names & Explanation of Beak Shapes, Sizes, & Functionality
- How to Identify Birds by Sound
- Montessori Bird Puzzle
Bird Books to Use for Learning
Here is a short list of the books we used in our learning this week!
National Geographic Kids' Bird Guide
Birds, Nests, & Eggs: Take Along Guide
Other resources that added to our learning include:
- Bits of Intelligence Birds Cards (beautiful for nuggets of information, tracing, and studying the parts of a bird)
- A good set of binoculars
- A journal for observation, drawing, writing, and storytelling
- Safari Toobs – Backyard Birds
- Backyard Bird 3 Part Cards – Do an object to image matching pre-reading work!