Learning Together Joyfully: April – Nature and Birds
Getting children outdoors and into nature is a great way to celebrate and appreciate our natural surroundings – especially on Earth Day, April 22. Nature helps children learn better as it improves psychological and physical well-being and enhances learning. Scientists suggest that exposure to nature improves a child’s ability to learn and improve retention in a variety of subject areas. Research confirms that contact with nature is likely to improve a learner’s ability to be more attentive, less stressed, more self-disciplined, and more engaged and interested. Read more about how nature impacts cognitive development and why outdoor play is more important than ever. This article also includes examples of inexpensive “loose parts” for children.
1. Read together 📚
The following books, about our natural world, support the celebration of Earth Day – April 22. From animals, birds, plants, and ecosystems to environmental change, conservation, and notable environmentalists, there are so many topics related to our environment that are important to explore with children.
- Be a Friend to Trees by Patricia Lauber. Why should you be a friend to trees? Not only because “they’re nice to look at, and nice to have around”, but because they are a valuable natural resource. This book explains how products are made from trees, how they are homes to a variety of animals, how they provide food for animals and people, and how they clean the air.
- The Earth Book by Todd Parr. This story explores the important, timely subject of environmental protection and conservation. Featuring a circular die-cut Earth on the cover, and printed entirely with recycled materials and nontoxic soy inks, this book includes lots of easy, smart ideas on how we can all work together to make the Earth feel good – from planting a tree and using both sides of the paper, to saving energy and reusing old things in new ways. The book also includes an interior poster with tips on how kids can “go green” everyday. This sweet homage to our beautiful planet is sure to inspire readers of all ages to do their part in keeping the Earth happy and healthy.
- A Place to Start a Family: Poems About Creatures that Build by David L. Harrison. This book combines a unique angle on a topic with excellent vocabulary and informative content. This winning poetry collection describes the building habits of different species, from prairie dogs to paper wasps.
- Zonia’s Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal . Zonia and her family are Asháninka, members of the largest Indigenous group of the Peruvian Amazon. Alarmed when she notices a deforested area in her beloved rainforest, she pledges to act to protect her home. This gorgeous book, from a Caldecott honoree, opens many important discussions. A heartfelt, visually stunning picture book illuminates a young girl’s day of play and adventure in the lush rainforest of Peru.
- Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet read by the author April Pulley Sayre. The photographs and word choice in this appreciation for Earth’s diverse beauty are powerful. Remarkable photographs and a rich, layered text introduce concepts of science, nature, geography, biology, poetry, and community, perfect for reading in classrooms and at home.
- Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals. What’s more fun than digging in the dirt? Making dirt! This alphabet book presents a simple and engaging rhyming “recipe” for home composting. Children can quickly grasp which items can be composted and which can’t and can participate in every step of the process, from collecting materials, to turning the pile, to spreading the finished product in the garden. This book teaches children to compost and develop life-long habits to protect the Earth.
- Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer. In this Caldecott Honor Winner, poetic language and gorgeous collage illustrations encourage readers to explore all of nature’s many mysteries. After reading, kids (and adults too) will want to get outside and embark on their own wonder walk! The detailed collages give readers a fresh outlook on the splendors of nature. When two curious kids embark on a “wonder walk,” they let their imaginations soar as they look at the world in a whole new light. They have thought-provoking questions for everything they see: Is the sun the world’s light bulb? Is dirt the world’s skin? Are rivers the earth’s veins? Is the wind the world breathing? I wonder.
- Miss Fox’s Class Goes Green by Eileen Spinelli. When Miss Fox shows up at school riding her bicycle, Mouse asks, “Do you have a flat tire?” “No,” Miss Fox tells her students. “I am going green!” Soon everyone in the class is working to keep the earth healthy. Mouse takes shorter showers (and does her singing afterwards!); Bunny brings a cloth bag to the supermarket; and Possum turns the lights off when he goes out. And Miss Fox’s simple act has ripples even beyond her own students…soon the whole school starts riding their bikes–including the principal.
- Earth Day Every Day by Lisa Bullard and Xiao Xin-Earth Day Books for kids. On Earth Day, we find ways to help the Earth. Trina plants trees with her class. She forms an Earth Day club with her friends. What can you do to make every day Earth Day? Do your part to be a planet protector! Discover how to reduce, reuse, recycle, and more with Tyler and Trina in the Planet Protectors series. These nonfiction picture books feature kid-friendly text and illustrations to make learning fun!
- Every Day Birds by Amy Ludwig. Birdsongs provide the soundtrack for spring as this book focuses on twenty North American birds, with a poem and descriptions. After reading, children can look out windows with curiosity–recognizing birds and nests and celebrating the beauty of these creatures! There are beautiful paper-cuttings and interesting facts about each bird are featured in the back of the book.
- Wake Up! By Helen Frost and Rick Lieder. In the fourth collaboration by this photographer and poet team, short verses invite readers to study stunning photographs that celebrate springtime awakenings. Wake up! Come out and explore all the new creatures being born — just-hatched birds in the trees, tadpoles in the pond, a baby fawn in the woods.
- Robins! How They Grow Up! by Eileen Christelow. Full of information about robins, one of the most emblematic signs of spring, the author’s note shares that this book was prompted by the author’s own experiences observing a robin family in her garden shed. Inspire students to learn more about the habits of these birds and their bright blue eggs.
SONGS
SPRING & BIRDS
- Sounds of spring – Birds singing in the morning
- Bird Songs for Kids
- Bird Song; Learn about Birds
- Birds for Kids
- Life Cycle of a Robin OR Nest of backyard Robins hatch
- Sparrows Learn to fly
- North American Bird Sounds
EARTH DAY
- Save the Planet for Me and You
- Celebrate Earth Day (Move and Sing)
- Recycle, Reuse, Recycle
- Recycling Song The Three R’s by Jack Hartmann (2:39)
- Earth is Our Home. Sing and discuss inferencing as there are many clues why we should take good care of our “home”.
- The Earth Song (good for a calming Brain Break)
- Song Going Green
2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩
EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES
- Create a Spring Nature Table with your children by using natural, found or items that have meaning for the classroom or family. Start off by going on a nature hunt to collect natural magical items as you look for the signs of Spring.
- After singing Save the Planet for Me and You and reading The Earth Book , brainstorm with children what they can do to protect our earth. Have them write all the different ways they can help.
- Create a world collage by reusing old magazines.
- Print off a set of downloadable Environment flashcards to remind children of the importance of maintaining a clean and safe environment.
- Have fun playing Nature in the Spring Bingo.
- Download this free educational mobile game about birds & conservation.
- Bird Circle Time colour activity. During your circle time, hand the trees with coloured birds out to the children. Then say the words: Red bird, red bird, High in the tree, Name all of the red things that you see. To download click on these templates: red; blue; yellow; green; orange; purple; brown; black; white; gray; pink. OR the Black and white version: red; blue; yellow; green; orange; purple; brown; black; white; gray; pink.
- Create a Bird Centre where children can:
- Be introduced to the birds and birdwatching by viewing the Life Cycle of a Robin OR Nest of backyard Robins hatch; read the poem 5 Little Robins in the Nest with a glove puppet template.
- Complete the life cycle of a Robin as well as a package of activities (coloured) or black and white.
- Complete a sequencing activity using the downloadable Life Cycle of Robin Card.
- Have fun completing bird mazes of a: Robin, Stellar Jay, Canada Goose, or Great Horned Owl.
- Learn more about the Anatomy of a Bird and Birds and their Beaks and Bird’s Feet and Function or Beaks and Feet using these cards.
- Play games using ABC Birds on a Post. Read about different Games to play with ABC Birds on a Post.
- Discuss a bird-friendly environment and have children make a few simple Homemade Bird Feeders
- Have older children complete this Characteristics of Birds graphic organizer.
Birdwatching is a great way to study nature at home and in the wild. During the Spring, invite children to observe birds using their eyes or with binoculars. Teach them how to identify birds or have them watch birds making their nests and then feeding their young. Bird watching is the perfect place to start to support children to develop a lifelong passion for nature and science. Fun, colorful and inspiring, birds capture students’ curiosity and encourage them to get outside and explore their environment. The world needs green-thinking kids like never before, and a love of birds will spontaneously spill over into a desire to protect the earth and the wild spaces where birds live.
3. Explore, Engage & Interact together 🌍
NATURE: BIRD & EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES
- Enjoy some of these Birdwatching field trips for classes or family. Of course you can birdwatch on any outdoor nature walk!
- Five Bird Watching Hotspots around Vancouver OR Bird watching spots in Vancouver OR sign up for Bird Watching at Jericho Park with Evan.
- Schedule a visit to Reifel Bird Sanctuary Range – In April Wild Birds are nesting and are at their most vulnerable when they nest. They are preoccupied and their eggs are at high risk of predation simply because they need to stay still and in one place during incubation. Their nests need to be the best they can be and hidden away, and above all, people need to leave them be. Review the resource guides with multiple activities called Exploring the Sanctuary or Just Hatch before and after the visit.
- Explore Birds and Nesting:
- Learn why birds lay their eggs in the Spring; then go outside and observe birds building their nests.
- Sing the song Bird Song; Learn about Birds and read the book Every Day Birds.
- Create a Bird Nest Sensory Bin that could include: a shallow container, bird seed, pretend birds, worms and eggs, a wooden birdhouse, a pre-made nest, a small terracotta pot for scooping and pouring and natural materials (sticks, acorns, leaves, moss) collected from outside.
- Read about inviting children to create at a Bird Nest Playdough Centre at school or at home.
- Teach children to identify birds:
- Download this BirdSleuth Explorer Guidebook.
- Download this Sparrow Bird Guide courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology to begin birdwatching and identifying these common birds.
- Download these 35 Bird photographs for kids to know and identify.
- Download these Pictures of Common Backyard Birds found in most local neighborhoods.
- The National Audubon Society has an online guide to help children identify birds.
- All about birds also has an excellent online bird guide.
- Birdwatching tips and reading of the book Crow Not Crow by Jane Yolen.
- Identifying birds is made easy with the free Merlin Bird ID for iOS and Android courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- Junior Birder Guide is filled with journal activities for older children.
- After you have taken children on a nature walk to birdwatch, download or create this simple My Bird Book Cover and Pages for younger children to record their observations.
- Children will have fun and learn more about Bird Beaks playing the Bird Beak Game.
- You and your children can have fun completing the Bald Eagle Online Puzzle OR Bald Eagle Chicks Online Puzzle.
- Create a Mommy Bird Mini-Book with the following templates then view how how to assemble the mini-book. Page 1 & 2 (color)(B&W); Page 3 & 4 (color)(B&W); Page 5 & 6 (color)(B&W); Page 7 &8 (color) (B&W); COVER (color)(B&W); Sequencing Cards to accompany the Mini-Book.
- Download and discuss this poster with children of 15 Ways to be a good neighbour in your “Nature Hood”.
- Enjoy watching Time-Lapsed Blooming Flowers.
- Go on a virtual nature walk to learn how to identify 12 Spring Wildflowers; then go outside to find them.
4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭
MOVEMENT:
- Go on a walk and enjoy a Nature Scavenger Hunt or find these 20 items on your walk.
- Enjoy Outdoor Kids Yoga – Easy Poses.
- Go on a Neighborhood or School yard Clean up. Grab some gloves and garbage bags and beautify your neighborhood by removing all the trash humans have tossed around.
- April is a great month for meteor showers. Watch and learn more about meteor showers.
- Get outdoors to watch and learn more about the Lyrids meteor shower which appears from April 21 – 22, 2022 around Vancouver.
- Check for more details of timing in the lower mainland or in other parts of BC.
NUTRITION:
- Outdoor cooking is a wonderful activity for the whole family. Get children involved early without much fuss. They will enjoy it, learn lots and feel proud of their creations.
5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning 💭
LEARN FROM THE BIRDS
