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Bluebirds (Grade K )

Master Teacher

Phillip Dean

Time Allotment

Two 45-minute lessons

Overview

In this lesson, students will learn about bluebirds by exploring Internet content related to bluebirds. Students will observe the size, color and sounds of bluebirds. Students will view pictures of bluebirds in different stages of development and discuss how bluebirds (and other organisms) change as they grow. Students will make a craft item and construct a bluebird nest box for the class and/or themselves.

Subject Matter

Science

South Carolina Standards

Visit the South Carolina Department of Education for the South Carolina Science Standards.

Science—Kindergarten

I. Inquiry

A. Process Skills

1. Observe: Use the senses and simple tools to gather information about objects or events such as size, shape, color, texture, sound, position and change (qualitative observations).

I. Inquiry

A. Process Skills

2. Classify

b: Arrange objects in sequential order.

II. Life Science

A. Characteristics of Organisms

1. Organisms have basic needs.

a: Observe and describe that living things change as they grow.

Learning Objectives

Students will learn that:

living things have unique characteristics that distinguish them from other living things
living things pass through different stages as they grow

Materials

For egg carton craft activity:
Each bird requires—
two-cup section from egg carton (do not separate the two cups)
glue
construction paper
scissors
stapler
crayons/markers
feathers (fake or chicken), beads and other miscellaneous supplies (optional)
For Nesting Box(es): See last Web site listed under Media Components.
Activity Sheet 1

Media Components

Web Sites

Free Online Eastern Bluebird Jigsaw Puzzles . Log on to this site, click on "Easy Version—Can You Solve It?" When puzzle is solved, a picture of a bluebird is displayed.
Bluebird Photo Gallery. Log on to this site and display pictures of bluebirds.
Sounds of Birds Online. Log on to this site and listen to the song of the bluebirds.
Egg Cup Bird Crafts. Log on to this site to see instructions for making birds from egg cartons.
Nestbox Plans and Specifications. Log on to this site to see plans for bluebird nesting boxes. I suggest the "Eastern/Western Bluebird Nest Box Plans."

Prep for Teacher

Step 1

All Internet activities can be done using one computer. An LCD projector and screen or TV with computer adaptor should be used to display the images for the class. Visit all sites so they will be stored in the computer's cache memory. This way the sites will be viewable even if the Internet cannot be accessed the day of the lesson.

Step 2

Secure items listed under Materials needed for the craft activity. All materials should be prepared in advance—for example, cut wings from construction paper so that students can glue them to the body of the bird.

Step 3

Enlist the help of friends/parents to help with constructing the bluebird house. All materials should be pre-cut so the box can be easily assembled. If a box is to be placed on the school grounds, advance planning is needed to determine the location of the box and to set a post on which to mount the box. If you plan for all students to make a bluebird box, plans should be made well in advance to secure and prepare materials and to have plenty of adult help in assembling the boxes.

Introductory Activity: Setting the Stage

Step 1

Focus for Media Interaction: Display the Free Online Eastern Bluebird Jigsaw Puzzles Web site. Instruct students to try to determine what the picture is. Work with the students to solve the puzzle. As the puzzle is being solved, have students guess what the picture will be.

Step 2

When the picture is complete, discuss with students objectives of the lesson. For example, ask students to describe the bird in terms of its size and color. You might expand the discussion by asking questions such as: "Have you seen birds in your backyard? Are they like this bird? If so, how? Are they different? How?"

Learning Activities

Step 1

With the completed puzzle still displayed, discuss with the class what the bluebird looks like. You might ask, for example, "If you were going to tell your friend what a bluebird looks like, what would you say?" Guide the discussion to focus on size, shape, color, and physical features of the bluebird.

Step 2

Focus for Media Interaction: Log on to the Bluebird Photo Gallery. Ask students to look for two things: 1) How the pictures indicate that bluebirds change as they grow and 2) the proper sequence for the pictures.

Show the picture of an adult bluebird, the picture of the eggs in the nest, and the picture of the baby birds (the one with the mouth open) in that order.

After looking at the photos, discuss with the students how bluebirds (as well as other organisms)

change as they grow. Also, ask students to describe how the pictures should be ordered to show the proper chronological sequence.

Step 3

Focus for Media Interaction: Log on to the Sounds of Birds Online and play the audio clips from the three species of bluebirds. Instruct students to listen for differences in the sound of the three songs.

(Note to Teacher: Visit the site before the lesson and click on each of the sound file links. This will download the file to the computer and prevent having a long wait while the files download during class.)

In addition, discuss with students that just as animals can be distinguished by their appearance, that they can also be distinguished by the sounds they make.

Step 4

Students will make the bluebird craft project using items listed under Materials.

Instructions: Tell each student to bend the egg carton cups toward each other, rim to rim, making an oval shape. Glue or staple them together to form the body of a bird. Use the paper to make feet, beak, and other body parts that you desire. The students can add feathers (fake or chicken), beads for eyes, or use their imaginations and incorporate other supplies.

Step 5

Nesting Box. Decide whether to make one box for the class or one box per student. The Web site—Nestbox Plans and Specifications — will provide instructions on plans and materials needed. After completing the box(es), class should attach the box to a post somewhere on the school grounds. Focus for Media Interaction: This is an appropriate time to discuss that all animals need a place to live.

Culminating Activity/Assessment

Give students three pictures similar to the ones shown in Step 2 of the Learning Activities (Activity Sheet 1). Instruct students to arrange these pictures in the proper chronological order.

Cross-Curricular Extensions

Art: Draw/color pictures of birds.

Reading: Read stories about birds.

Community Connections

Engage a wildlife officer or county extension agent to speak to the class about creating backyard habitats for birds.

Activity Sheets (PDF)

Activity Sheet 1