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Young kids love to get outdoors and explore. They run, play, learn, and enjoy all through exploration. Adults might take certain aspects of nature for granted, whereas young kids view them with great awe and wonder. As parents, teachers, and librarians, we can grab that natural awe and help it blossom into fruitful knowledge and gratitude for our amazing world.
Wildlife particularly grabs kids’ attention in the great outdoors. Deer, rabbits, raccoons, dogs, cats, birds. It’s all so varied and amazing. Even within one of those species, we see beautiful variations.
Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate (Candlewick, 2013) celebrates that variety by sharing about different kinds of birds and how to enjoy and learn about birds. This lengthy picture book showcases various birds in both information and illustration. While the book has a comic book tone, the information is extensive and the more serious illustrations of birds are beautiful and detailed.
This book presents useful, applicable information for bird watching through silly (but fun!) conversations between birds and even the reader throughout the book. Each spread includes facts (also told in a conversational tone), then various birds all over the page making goofy comments.
The author creates certain birds with specific personalities that carry throughout the book.
Accompanying Learning Activities
If your child/student is interested in birds and the outdoors, pick up Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard and try a few of these accompanying activities:
Make Your Own Bird Feeder
To entice birds closer for your viewing, make a few bird feeders for your yard:
- Try this bird feeder created from a half of an orange.
- Or this craft stick bird feeder with a perch.
- The Homeschool Scientist put together a list of 9 easy-to-make bird feeders.
- Or try this simple bird feeder craft from Hands On: As We Grow that preschoolers can do.
Learning Printables and Resources
- I love these beautiful Bird Nature Study printables from Homeschool Creations, filled with various learning activities for elementary ages. She also made preschool and kindergarten bird-themed printable packs.
- Spell Outloud compiled a list of bird study activities, many with free printables.
- A few versions of free bird apps exist for tablets and smartphones.
- Buggy and Buddy has a free printable bird watching record book.
Arts and Crafts
- Rockabye Butterfly shares a beautiful “birds on the wire” art project for elementary-aged kids.
- Here’s an idea for a bird-themed sensory tub for preschoolers.
- My preschoolers loved doing this nest and bird craft from Buggy and Buddy.
- Your family can create a homemade flower pot bird bath like this one from In Lieu of Preschool for yourselves or as a gift for other bird watchers.
More Books about The Great Outdoors
Wild Tracks! by Jim Arnosky (Sterling, 2008) – A beautiful book with many images of different animal tracks.
A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry, Illustrated by Marc Simont (HarperCollins, 1956) – An older picture book that sweetly shares the importance and many purposes of a tree.
Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives by Lola M. Schaefer, Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (Chronicle, 2013) – This book shares awesome numbers associated with different aspects of various animals’ lives. Super cool information!
What about the great outdoors interests your kids? What bird activities do they enjoy?
Poppins Book Nook Giveaway!
Poppins Book NookGreat Outdoors Bundle Giveaway! Every month the Poppins Book Nook group will be offering readers a chance to win a brand new storybook or product that ties in with our theme for the month. This month one lucky entrant will win a copy of the classic storybook Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping as no one brings that certain flair and fun to the great outdoors like Amelia Bedelia. The winner will also win an Uncle Milton Nat Geo Starry Night Lantern so whether you live in the countryside or in the city your child can experience some of the great outdoors while reading your storybook.
Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the Rafflecopter terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom’s disclosures. Just enter the Rafflecopter below to win:
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About Caroline Flory
Birdwatching is huge around here – I’m sure any of those bird feeder ideas would be a big hit.
That’s great! Hope your family has fun!
Thanks for sharing. We don’t get those birds here in South Africa, but you’ve given me inspiration to make up my own unit study. Thank you.
I love when other ideas help me come up with new ideas for my region or family’s needs. I’d love to read about birds in South Africa!
We really enjoy bird watching. We feed the birds every day and my kids love to point out our visitors and try to identify them. It is a great way to experience nature. I am adding this book to our to read list, I know they will like it!
Thank you for helping to bring a spoonful of reading fun to the Poppins Book Nook this month!
This book goes into great detail while still being fun. I hope your family loves it!
We did the same book! My oldest and I just have become birdwatchers, keeping the binoculars handy at all times now. We are currently able to observe 2 yellow-crested night herons out our back window. It is fun! Love all the resources you listed.
That’s awesome! So fun to bird watch together!