Bird Science Activities for Kids

Birds are amazing animals, their eyes take up approximately half of their heads, their skeleton takes up only approximately ten percent of their body weight and they can fly very long distances in all types of weather. These are just a few of the many amazing things about birds.

Birds have remarkable inherent attributes and characteristics and because of this, there are many opportunities to offer exciting bird science activities for kids.

Here you will find a variety of bird science activities for kids that involve the characteristics that enable birds to fly, how birds keep warm and their eating habits. These science activities can be done in the classroom, in a homeschooling situation or even just for fun. Regardless of where the science activities are done, kids will learn a lot about birds plus they will have a great time learning.

Bird Science Activity #1: Bird Pictures

Show kids a variety of pictures that represent different kinds of bird beaks, tails, wings, legs and feet. Discuss with the kids how each part of the bird body helps the bird to find and eat food. Many public libraries have a large selection of science related texts geared towards kids and it is typically fairly easy to find lots of books on birds.

Bird Science Activity #2: Feather Investigation

Each child should be given a feather to examine and study, discuss with kids the various parts of the feather including the shaft and barbs. Allow kids to pull apart the barbs and a hand magnifier makes examining the feather even more exciting. Have the children or help the children to write down what they see when they are examining the feather, this is a great time to discuss how feathers help birds fly and help to keep birds warm.

Bird Science Activity #3: Bird and Food Matching Game

Give or show the kids pictures of birds and also show pictures of possible bird food choices, the kids should try to match the picture of bird with the food. Some examples of bird and food matches are: owl and mouse, robin and worm, heron and crab, eagle and fish etc. Also discuss how the bird’s beak and feet help the bird to catch and eat their food.

Bird Science Activity #4: Go on a Bird Walk

Take the kids outside and go on bird walk, look for birds and their variety of characteristics such as: walk or run, what color feathers, size of beaks, fly alone or in a group, flapping their wings or gliding etc. Write down what the kids see and when the kids are back indoors, make sure to write down the information on large chart paper and post in the classroom or home so the kids can easily see it.

Bird Science Activity #5: Make a Bird Feeder

Give each child a pinecone with a string tied at the top of the pinecone, allow kids to cover the pinecone in peanut butter and then roll in bird seed. Hang outside the classroom window on a tree branch or at home on a tree. Have the kids watch the birds come and feast.

Sources:

http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/birdfeeder.html

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/easy-science-activities-for-kids.htm

http://www.juliantrubin.com/fairprojects/zoology/birdsbirding.html

http://www.homeschoolscience.com/homeschool_science/birds.html