Spring Unit Study: Backyard Birds

Spring is the perfect time to revisit all that God has so intricately crafted on our earth and in nature. This spring lesson is meant to draw attention to and create awe in God’s creation and in the “birds of the air” (Gen 1:30). Please feel free to use all or some of the ideas below. Search online and find other ideas to boost and add to this unit study – make it your own!

Click Here to learn more about how I used a $36 Lowe’s shelving unit to create a Montessori-style activity + tray learning center that we change out for each unit study. You can buy these simple trays with handles from Hobby Lobby!

Bible Verse
Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? – Matthew 6:26
Steve Green Memory Verse – Matthew 6:26 + Youtube Video

Library Books List
Common Backyard Birds by Doris Dumrauf
Bird Builds a Nest  by Martin Jenkins
A Nest Full of Eggs by Priscilla Belz Jenkins
Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward

Prints + Visuals
(each printable below was fairly inexpensive, in total it all cost under $15! Laminate them and use for younger children or pass on to a friend)
Birds of Winter mini-study
Spring Songbirds mini-study
Printable Songbird Poster
Spring Robin Shadow Matching
Spring Number Counting Flashcards

Display Inspiration + Ideas
Hang up posters/prints – use clipboards or simple thumbtacks
Display library books in easy to reach location 
TY Beanie Baby birds or other stuffed bird visuals
Set out bird ID flashcards 
Birdhouse visual
Birdnest visual
Binoculars
Notebook or sketchbook
Pencil, crayons, colored pencils
Tweezers (bird food) – Montessori skill tray



Bird Songs
Minnesota/Midwest common backyard birds

Outdoor Activities

  • Nature Hike + Bird Watching – pack a backpack with your binoculars, sketch pad, colored pencils, and a book or guide to the birds you might see.
  • Bird Scavenger Hunt
  • Make Your Own Bird Nest – scavenger outside just like the birds would to find items to make a bird’s nest!

Indoor Activities

  • Bird Song Matchfind the song of each bird on Youtube, play the song of each bird out loud, match it to the picture/flashcard and name it! Test your skills during an outdoor nature hike or next time you’re in your backyard
  • Books – read books from the book list above – identify which birds you’ve seen in your own backyard.
  • National Geographic Video – 50 Birds, 50 States
  • Baby Robins Feeding and First Flight – Youtube Video (friendly for all ages)
  • Science Experiment – Bird & Beak Adaptations
  • Outdoor Bird Feeder – set up a bird feeder outside that is visible from an indoor window, make sure the binoculars are handy and keep watch for different types of birds that visit your feeder! A songbird mix is usually the best and brings the most variety.

Letters + Letter Sounds
Baby Bird Alphabet 

Arts + Crafts
DIY Bird Feeder – toilet paper roll, sun butter, birdseed, yarn, hole punch
Coloring Pages
Robin Hand Craft

 

Enjoy! Please tag me at @samanthaecollin on Instagram if you try out this unit study!

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