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DISCUSS (1 of 4):
Do you think this bird would come to the feeder? Why or why not? Hint: Think about what the bird would like to eat.
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DISCUSS (2 of 4):
Do you think this bird would come to the feeder? Why or why not? Hint: Think about what the bird would like to eat.
DISCUSS (3 of 4):
Do you think this bird would come to the feeder? Why or why not? Hint: Think about what the bird would like to eat.
DISCUSS (4 of 4):
Do you think this bird would come to the feeder? Why or why not? Hint: Think about what the bird would like to eat.
DISCUSS:
How do you think this feeder works to attract hummingbirds?
Building a prototype bird feeder can take up to 30 more minutes if your class is enthusiastic.
If your time is limited, this is a natural stopping point. You can have students write their names on their worksheets and collect them. You can then build the prototype bird feeders and complete the worksheet during your next science class.
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the Exploration & Activity you just completed.
- Lesson Assessment and Answer Key
- Discussion: A bird feeder is only one way to attract birds. Can you think of others?
- Activity: Feed the birds in your school yard.
- Readings: A collection of readings about birds and design.
- Online Books: Books about birds with audio in English and Spanish.
- Videos: Watch birds snacking at feeders in many places.
Adding a bird feeder is one way to attract birds. Are there other ways to make a place more attractive to birds? Think about:
- Plants that provide the birds with food and shelter
- Sources of water that birds can drink or bathe in
- Places where birds can hide and sleep
This article from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will give you many ideas. If you have a school garden, this discussion could even lead to a project you carry out as a class!
Celebrate Urban Birds project provides great advice on bird feeders. If you’re feeling crafty, they provide instructions for making DIY feeders. If you don’t have time to make a feeder, consider one that sticks to the window with suction cups, like this one.
What kinds of birds are you likely to see at your feeder? Check out this list of common feeder birds, cross referenced by where they live and what they like to eat.
And if you get stumped and can’t tell a crow from a raven or a finch from a sparrow, you aren’t alone. This these tricky bird identification tips will help!
These Common-Core-aligned readings are free with registration on ReadWorks. All readings include comprehension questions.
Martin's Birdhouse: Encourage your beginning designers with this story about how drawing pictures helps two friends build a birdhouse. (Grade 2)
This set of articles will help beginning readers learn more about birds. (Grade 1)
Unite for Literacy provides online books with audio in English and Spanish.
- Beautiful Birds is a simple, rhyming text.
- The Birds I’ll See will get your students thinking about birds of all kinds.
- Red Robin tells the life story of a bird your students may know.
- Animals Up, Down, All Around encourages students to look for all the animals that share cities with people.
See what birds are grabbing for a snack right now at the Wild Birds Unlimited feeder in Ithaca, New York. Below the live feed, you can check out past visitors to the feeder.
Watch toucans and other tropical birds munch on fruit at the Panama Fruit Feeder Cam.
Check out the hummingbirds visiting a feeder at the Tandayapa Bird Lodge in northwest Ecuador.
Food isn’t the only thing that will attract birds. Take a look at who visits this backyard bird bath. How many different kinds of birds do you count?
