Feathered Friends
Read & Do
Little Kids First Big
Book of Birds
Spring is here and with it brings flowers growing, rains falling and birds singing sweetly in the trees. Our winged friends come in many shapes and sizes, live in all different parts of the world and have many different habits, but they are all amazing.
Learn more about our feathered friends in these three books and take your knowledge further with the provided vocab lists, comprehension questions and activities.
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Birds
Vocab
flock - a group of animals (such as birds or sheep) assembled or herded together
hatch - to emerge from an egg, chrysalis or pupa
species - a class of individuals having common attributes and designated by a common name
nest - a bed or receptacle prepared by an animal and especially a bird for its eggs and young
migrate - to pass, usually periodically, from one region or climate to another for feeding or breeding
beak - the bill of a bird
talon - the claw of an animal and especially of a bird of prey
After you are done reading National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Birds, ask your students these questions:
How many different species of birds are there on planet Earth?
Do all birds have feathers and beaks?
Do all birds hatch from eggs?
What bird can sleep while flying?
What can a bird's feet tell you about how they live?
What is the fastest-moving animal in the world?
How many types of birds cannot fly?
Before man built buildings, what type of birds would make their nest in caves?
When not flying, what type of birds ride on zebras and other animals?
What are some birds you see near your home or school?
Activity
Bird House
This book is also available in Spanish as Un Pájaro En Casa.
Vocab
abuela - Spanish word for grandmother
released - to set free
cured - to restore to health
After you are done reading Bird House, ask your students these questions:
Who are the characters in the book and how are they related?
Where did they find the bird?
Where did they take the bird and what did Abuela do for it?
While the bird was getting better what did they let it do in the house?
When the little bird was cured, what happened?
Once spring arrived who was their special guest?
Activity
Gather your popsicle sticks and create this bird house.
A Field Guide to
Ruffling Feathers
Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers
Vocab
oath - a solemn, usually formal, calling upon God or a god to witness to the truth of what one says or to witness that one sincerely intends to do what one says
Migratory Bird Treaty Act - The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 implements four international conservation treaties that the U.S. entered into with Canada in 1916, Mexico in 1936, Japan in 1972 and Russia in 1976. It is intended to ensure the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory bird species.
civil disobedience - refusal to obey governmental demands or commands especially as a nonviolent and usually collective means of forcing concessions from the government
activist - a person who uses or supports strong actions (such as public protests) in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue
community - the people with common interests living in a particular area
Activity
After you are done reading this book, download the discussion guide and activity from Random House.
