Play Learn Grow Together

Learning Together Joyfully: APRIL: EARTH DAY & BIRDS 

Welcome back educators, caregivers, parents and grandparents! April has arrived – the leaves are coming out on the trees; flowers are blooming. Days are longer and nights are shorter. Daylight Saving time, which moved the clock forward in March, gives everyone even more light hours to get things done. Those extra hours of sun can be a major mood-booster, according to some research. Many animals are returning as temperatures rise – including the birds chirping outside your window. In addition to the satisfaction of marking species off your bird-watching list, seeing more of our feathered friends can make you happy. Your family can spend more time outdoors which is also better for everyone’s mental health. Research has found that taking walks in nature slows your heart rate and makes you more relaxed, but some research indicates that there is something special about spring’s effect on your brain. Enjoy Spring – enjoy April as you play, learn, grow together!

Quick Links

Use these links to quickly navigate to specific sections within this blog!

1. Read and Sing Together
2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing
3. Explore, Engage & Interact together
4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition
5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning

1.  Read and Sing together 📚 

SPRING BOOKS

• Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder. What would happen if you walked very, very quietly and looked carefully at the natural world outside? You might see a cricket leap, a moth spread her wings, or a spider step across a silken web. In simple, evocative language, Helen Frost hints at the many tiny creatures around us, while in stunning close-up photographs, Rick Lieder captures a katydid’s eye, a firefly, and many more living wonders awaiting discovery. Back matter amplifies the descriptions of the insects and spiders in the book.

• Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee. Grab your umbrella and hit the puddles! Check out this interactive question-and-answer book to find out which species enjoy the rainy April showers as much as humans do. With spring come April showers. It’s time to put on a raincoat, grab an umbrella, and head outdoors. The worms like rain, and so do the fish and frogs. But what about the cat and dog? In this lyrical picture book, one spunky little girl discovers just who likes rain—and who doesn’t—as she explores the rainy-day habits of the world around her.

• Jigging for Halibut with Tsinii by Sara Florence Davidson & Robert Davidson. Off the northern tip of Haida Gwaii, a boy goes fishing with Tsinii, his grandfather. As they watch the weather, jig for halibut, and row with the tides, the boy realizes there’s more to learn from Tsinii than how to catch a fish.” This tender story highlights intergenerational knowledge, authentic learning experiences and the importance of Elders. It is at once poetic and calming, in both its words and illustrations, and gives knowledge to us from those that have been entrusted with it.” -David Robertson, Governor General’s Award-winning author. 

BIRD BOOKS

• Everyday 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, families can look out their 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.

• 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. 

• Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner. In this book, a secret underwater world is brought to life where readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the water is a hidden world of minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing. These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered over and under the pond. 

EARTH DAY: The following books, about our natural world, support the celebration of Earth Day, on April 22, 2023. From animals, plants, birds and ecosystems to environmental change, conservation, and notable environmentalists, there are many topics related to our environment that are important to explore with children. 

• A Kids Book About Climate Change read by the authors Zanagee Artis and Olivia Greenspan. Climate change is a topic that can be overwhelming for kids and grownups. So if you’re looking for the best place to better understand the climate crisis, look no further! This book will give kids the facts about climate change, explain what the state of our planet is, how it got there, and give them hope to fight for their future. Ages 5-9.

• Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal. Amidst all the buildings, people, and traffic in his neighborhood, Jayden sees nature everywhere: the squirrels scrounging, the cardinals calling, and the dandelions growing. But Mama doesn’t believe there’s nature in the city. So Jayden sets out to help Mama see what he sees. With the help of his friend Mr. Curtis, Jayden plants the seeds of a community garden and brings together his neighbors—and Mama—to show them the magic of nature in the middle of the city. Timeless and vibrant, this story highlights the beauty of intergenerational relationships and the power of imagination and perseverance in bringing the vision of a community garden to life. Jayden’s love of nature will inspire readers to see their environment and surroundings as bursting with opportunities for growth and connection. At the back of the book, readers will find activities to make items found in the book, such as the milk jug bird feeder.

• My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan. Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals large and small. She pours down summer rain and autumn leaves. She sprinkles whisper-white snow and protects the tiny seeds waiting for spring. Readers of all ages will pore over the pages of this spectacular book that celebrates everything Earth does for us, all the while reminding us to be a good friend in return. Readers of all ages will pore over the pages of this children’s book that is bursting with color and texture. Its enticing pages feature clever cut-outs, flaps, and curved contours that encourage exploration as its poetic text celebrates everything Earth does for us, all the while reminding us to be a good friend in return.

• We Are the Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom. Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, this story issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption―a bold and lyrical picture book.When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people’s water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.”Water is the first medicine.It affects and connects us all . . .”

• What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet by Jess French. In this informative book on recycling for children, you will find everything you need to know about our environment. The good, the bad and the incredibly innovative. From pollution and litter to renewable energy and plastic recycling. 

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. This beloved story teaches kids to speak up and stand up for those who can’t. With a recycling-friendly “Go Green” message, The Lorax allows young readers to experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking our earth for granted, all in a story that is timely, playful and hopeful. The book’s final pages teach us that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference.
  • Download the Educators Guide for many ideas.

• 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, 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 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. There is 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.

• 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 by 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. 

• A Cool Drink of Water by Barbara Kerley. Everyone, everywhere enjoys a nice, cool drink of water.  With minimal text this book teaches children that water is basic to human life all over the globe. Stunning National Geographic photos show how people in various cultures use and conserve water. An Italian boy sips from a fountain in the town square. A hiker takes a refreshing drink from a mountain stream. Black-robed women in India stride gracefully through a field with brass water jugs balanced on their heads. Whether they squeeze it out of a burlap bag, haul it home from a communal tap, or get it out of their kitchen faucet, people all around the world are unified by their common need for water. This beautiful book doesn’t address water pollution, it is purely a celebration of the world’s most vital resource.

• 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 after!); Bunny brings a cloth bag to the supermarket; and Possum turns the lights off when he goes out. 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 these nonfiction picture books featuring kid-friendly text and illustrations to make learning fun!

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 🧩 

SPRING AND BIRD ACTIVITIES:

• Have fun together working on the Bald Eagle Online Puzzle OR Bald Eagle Chicks Online Puzzle.
• 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. 
• Discuss a bird-friendly environment and have children make a few simple Homemade Bird Feeders.
• Download a free educational mobile game about birds & conservation.
• As you go on a nature walk to birdwatch, download or create your own simple My Bird Book Cover and Pages for children to record their observations.
• 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. Click on the Colour 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.
• Download these Spring Word Cards
• Download this Spring Pocket Chart activity #1.

• Download this Spring Pocket Chart activity #2

• Children will have fun and learn more about Bird Beaks playing the Bird Beak Game.
• Download these Mommy Bird Mini-Book Templates and review 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.
• Watch and learn why birds lay their eggs in the Spring; then go outside and observe birds building their nests.
• Have older children complete this Characteristics of Birds graphic organizer.
• Explore Birds and Nesting:
  • Sing Bird Song; Learn about Birds and read the book Every Day Birds;
  • Create a Bird Nest Sensory Bin that might include: a shallow container, bird seed, pretend birds, worms and eggs, a wooden birdhouse, a pre-made nest, and a small terracotta pot for scooping and pouring and natural materials such as sticks, acorns, leaves, moss) collected from outside. 

• Read about inviting children to create at a Bird Nest Playdough Centre at school or at home. (Fantastic Fun and Learning.com)

3. Explore, Engage & Interact together 🌍

SPRING, EARTH DAY & BIRD ACTIVITIES:

• Download these April Poems to share and inspire your children to create their own Springtime poems:
  • April Rain 
  • A Real April Day
  • Life Begins Again in April
  • April Raindrops
  • April Rainbows
• Teach children how to write a Haiku poem to celebrate nature and Spring on Haiku day – April 17th.
• Enjoy some of these Bird Watching 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.
  • Schedule a visit to Reifel Bird Sanctuary Range – In April, wild birds are nesting and are at their most vulnerable. They are preoccupied, and they and their eggs are at high risk of predators 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, we need to leave them be. Review the resource guides with multiple activities called Exploring the Sanctuary or Just Hatch  before and after the visit.

• Download this poster 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.
• Set up a Bird Centre in your classroom to teach children how 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;
  • Enjoy learning some Birdwatching tips as you listen to the reading of the book Crow Not Crow by Jane Yolen; 
  • Identifying birds is made easy when you download the free Merlin Bird ID for iOS and Android courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
• Check out this Junior Birder Guide from Nature Canada filled with activities for older children.
• Create a Spring Nature Table with your children by using natural, found and items that have meaning for the classroom or family. Start off by going on a nature hunt with your children to collect natural items as you look for the signs of Spring. (theimaginationtree.com)

• 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.(Kelley at TeacherIdeaFactory.com.)

• Create a world collage by reusing old magazines (iheartcraftythings.com) 

• 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 downloadable Robin puppet template.
  • Download a booklet with the life cycle of a Robin as well as a Colour package of activities or black and white. 
  • Complete a sequencing activity using the downloadable Life Cycle of Robin Card.
  • Have fun completing mazes including a: Robin, Stellar Jay, Canada Goose, or Great Horned Owl.
  • Engage older kids to 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 with these instructions on how to use ABC Birds on a Post.

4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭

MOVEMENT: Encouraging children to go outdoors and into nature is a great way to celebrate and appreciate our natural surroundings on Earth Day April 22. Nature helps children learn better as it improves our psychological and physical well-being and enhances our learning. Scientists confirm 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 why outdoor play is more important than ever. This article includes some great, and inexpensive materials that serve as invitations for loose parts for children to explore. 

• Go on a walk and enjoy a Nature Scavenger Hunt. 
• Children will enjoy participating in this Springtime Brain Break “Springtime Dance”. 

NUTRITION:

• To emphasize how similar all cultures are, read A Cool Drink of Water by Barbara Kerley. Everyone everywhere enjoys a nice, cool drink of water.  With minimal text this book teaches children that water is basic to human life all over the globe. Stunning National Geographic photos show how people in various cultures use and conserve water. An Italian boy sips from a fountain in the town square. A hiker takes a refreshing drink from a mountain stream. Black-robed women in India stride gracefully through a field with brass water jugs balanced on their heads. Whether they squeeze it out of a burlap bag, haul it home from a communal tap, or get it out of their kitchen faucet, people all around the world are unified by their common need for water. This beautiful book doesn’t address water pollution, it is purely a celebration of the world’s most vital resource.

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning 💭

LEARN FROM THE BIRDS