Bird ID

Each day before we go home from school, the kindergartners and I go through the bird identification cards.  I also incorporate birds into my lessons throughout the day while teaching them the alphabet, color words, first sounds, story time, math story problems and how to write.  

I teach the kindergartners to look for field marks like a fork-shaped tail, a crest on their head or a wing bar.  I teach them about birds' habitats, the way they search for food, their song and how in some species the male and female look different.  Through this process they are learning to look for details, learning about nature and how animals live as well as learning a lot of new vocabulary birds.  You can support your child by taking them for hikes or going for drives to look for birds.  In this world where many children spend so much time indoors, enjoying birds may be just the thing to encourage children to get outdoors more.