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Nature · The activity desk

Bird feature observation

Look for bird features and record what you notice.

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A little plan for play

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What you need

Paper and large child-appropriate crayons.

Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.

Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.

Set up: Choose a window or outdoor place where you can watch birds from a distance.

Adult's role: Stay with the child and help them look without disturbing wildlife.

Let's make it happen

  1. Watch quietly for a bird, or look at a picture. Notice its beak and feather-covered body.
  2. Draw a bird and add a beak, wings, and marks for feathers.
  3. Tell each other one thing you noticed, such as a color or how the bird moved.

Make it simpler: Look at a bird picture together if no bird is visible.

Clean up: Put away the paper and crayons.

Observe from a distance. Do not approach nests or handle birds or feathers.

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