Brilliant Birds

Programme: BRILLIANT BIRDS

Suitable for Foundation Stage pupils and available as a half day programme

This programme introduces very young children to the diversity and difference between birds. Through a variety of activities children will explore the survival requirements of birds and the difficulties having a beak can bring! Children explore the variation between water birds, garden birds and birds of prey and the different adaptations they have to their habitat.

ACTIVITY DETAILS

Brilliant birds begins in the classroom with a short introduction to birds and a discussion about which species the children already know. Children are introduced to a number of different bird species that they will investigate during the session. The session then moves outside to explore the site and the birds that live there.

1. Bird Bingo -Children visit the bird table and the lakes and try to spot all of the birds, this encourages children to compare differences between different species of birds.

2. Beaks, feet and habitats - In a game, groups try to match the correct feet and beak to the bird. This game re-enforces the idea that birds have specialist features for their habitat and can be identified by them.

3. Wiggly worms - Children experience how difficult it can be to find food as a garden bird. This game introduces the idea of camouflage as children discover that some colours are easy to find and others much harder.

4. Nest Building -A discussion about what nests are for and what would make the perfect nest. Children investigate how hard life would be with only a beak to build a nest with. They are each given a clothes peg and must try to construct a warm, comfy bed with it.

5. Dawn Chorus - Investigation into the bird song and how during spring birds all sing in the morning. The class tries to create its own dawn chorus with each child coming up with their own noise or song.

CURRICULUM LINKS

This programme predominantly links with the following learning and development requirements however it will link with all L+D requirements at some points.

• Knowledge and Understanding of the World

• Communication, Language and Literacy

This activity sheet is available to download as a word document from the right hand side.