Living Montessori Now

Montessori Inspiration for Parents and Teachers

How to Discover the Joy of Birdwatching with Kids

By

How did I ever miss the discovery that birdwatching is fun??! Even though I had good teachers growing up, I didn’t have teachers who were passionate about science. And I never read about birds as a child.

We did some bird study as homeschoolers, but the available Montessori-friendly materials for homeschoolers were more limited pre-Internet. Now, I’ve discovered that birdwatching is an amazing activity for both kids and adults! I’ll tell you from my experience how to discover the joy of birdwatching with kids.

How to Discover the Joy of Birdwatching with Kids

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you). I was given the printables from the Montessori Bird pack by My Montessori Hub. As always, my opinions are honest and my own.

How to Discover the Joys of Birdwatching with Kids

Start with inviting bird books and hands-on activities.

Montessori Shelves with Backyard Bird Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Backyard Bird Themed Activities

We started our bird unit with a number of hands-on bird activities as well as bird books with beautiful photographs or illustrations.

You can see the free backyard bird printables (including my subscriber freebie backyard bird pack) in my post with free backyard bird printables and Montessori-inspired backyard bird activities.

I had many bird books available. You can see my recommendations in my best bird books for kids post.

The Best Bird Books for Kids

Even though I used books designed for children (except the lovely Nature Anatomy and Animalium), I learned a lot and loved the beautiful bird images.

50% off with Code LMN50 - Unit Study Bundle of Birds

The main printables I used that are available for purchase are from the Unit Study Bundle of Birds from My Montessori Hub. There’s a special deal for my readers! You can get the bundle at 50% off with the code LMN50 at checkout!

Here’s what’s included in the bundle:

  • Letter B tracing cards (print and cursive) and worksheets
  • A4 Poster of 15 Birds
  • 15 individual posters of each bird sized 10×15
  • 3-part cards of 15 birds
  • Poster of external parts of a bird
  • 3-part cards of parts of the bird
  • 0 – 9 Counting Cards of birds
  • 0 – 9 Clip cards of birds
  • 0 – 20 Addition and subtraction using cards of birds
  • Bigger/Smaller/Equals
  • Odd/Even numbers
  • Initial sound clip cards of birds
  • Book of birds
  • Booklet of external parts of a bird
  • Writing book of bird names in print
  • Writing book of bird names in cursive
  • Colouring book of birds parts
  • Matching game of birds to the close-up images
  • Memory game of birds
  • Puzzles of birds
  • Cardholders
  • A video of the sound of each bird

Note: If you get the bird bundle with the coupon code LMN50 you’ll have the option to get the gorgeous spring bundle at 50% off with activities related to flowers, gardening tools, and herbs.

Working with Owl Puzzle and Animalium Book

Working with Owl Puzzle and Animalium Book

We have a neighborhood owl, so the first activity we used from the bundle was the owl puzzle along with the poster of 15 birds and the Animalium book (one of Zoey’s favorites). The puzzles are surprisingly challenging and are perfect for a variety of ages.

Montessori Shelf with Bird Books and Montessori Bird Printables

Montessori Shelf with Bird Books and Montessori Bird Printables

Since then, I’ve had the birds memory game, woodpecker puzzle, and external parts of a bird booklet on my cultural shelf. I love that all the materials in the birds bundle are beautiful. But my favorite parts might be the card holders! The folders for the birds memory game and woodpecker puzzle are examples of the folders that come with each set of cards in the bundle. They have dotted lines for folding so that you can make attractive folders for your cards in two minutes or less! I have limited shelf space, and the card holders don’t take up an excessive amount of space. For home use, I’m always looking for ways to save time and space. (Note: To see my shelf in a larger size, open the image in a new tab.)

I don’t typically laminate my materials for home use (except for toddler printables and printables that will be used in or near water). I adore materials like these that are very attractive, professionally done, and can be prepared very quickly! I still have so many activities left in the bundle that I can easily prepare. Note: The books on my shelf are the National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America a and National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Birds (which I love to open to a variety of pages, featuring different birds).

Backyard Bird Books and Birdwatching Tray

Backyard Bird Books and Birdwatching Tray

On my other bird-themed shelves, I have our backyard bird books and birdwatching tray. On the tray are the free printable Bird Watching Record by Tanglewood Hollow at Teachers Pay Teachers, some pages from the printable nature journal from Twig and Moth, and a clipboard. I also have child-size binoculars that work well and aren’t a toy.

The books are Backyard Birds (Peterson’s Field Guides for Young Naturalists and The Little Book of Backyard Bird Songs. I don’t normally use toys or materials with batteries, but this is a wonderful exception. My 3 grandchildren are all in love with the book, and so am I! It’s so easy to learn the bird sounds and a variety of facts about each bird. 

Note: In addition to the video of bird sounds in the bird bundle and The Little Book of Backyard Bird Songs, you can learn to identify bird sounds through this post: Free Bird Sounds, Songs, and Rhymes for Circle Time.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

The Little Book of Backyard Bird Songs is one of the few items with a battery that I like for young children. It’s an inviting way for children to learn to identify a variety of bird songs. Not only is there a clear image and description of each bird but the book includes each bird’s scientific name, where found, what it feeds on, its nest, its eggs, adult characteristics, and length. Of course, the best part is the set of buttons with a bird-head button that plays each bird’s unique song. . My 5-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, loves to teach. Here, she’s sharing The Little Book of Backyard Bird Songs with her 15-month-old sister, Sophia, and 12-month-old cousin, Caleb. Too sweet! . Of course, don’t forget that Instagram is often called a “highlight reel.” It’s important to realize that there were a number of moments that didn’t look at all like this. There are two young toddlers here, and silly chaos ensues during much of any “group activity” with them! It’s all good and part of the process! . That said, Sophia really loves this book and gets it from the shelf each day she comes to my house. She laughs as she presses the buttons to hear the bird songs. And Zoey loves to go through the bird songs and information for each bird. The book has become one of Caleb’s favorites, too. The book is very cool! ???????????????????????????????????????????????? #kidblogger #kidsactivities #Montessori #Montessoriathome #Montessoriinspired #Montessorilove #LivingMontessoriNow #unitstudy #homeschool #preschool #grandmashouse #kindergarten #toddlerfun #afterschool #earlychildhood #earlyyears #picturebooks #childrensbooks #kidlit #picturebooksofinstagram #childhoodunplugged #birdtheme #birdunit #birdsongs #grandchildren

A post shared by Living Montessori Now (@debchitwood) on


Read the comment in my Instagram post telling how they use The Little Book of Backyard Bird Songs outdoors in forest school to get responses from the birds! I can’t wait to try that!

Use your new knowledge to go on birdwatching nature walks!

Birdwatching Materials - Backyard Birds Book, Nature Journaling Pages, Pencil, Binoculars, and Clipboard

Birdwatching Materials – Backyard Birds Book, Nature Journaling Pages, Pencil, Binoculars, and Clipboard

Zoey, Sophia, and I have gone on two birdwatching nature walks at a nature area and park. We’ve had so much fun with this! I heard a mourning dove in the parking lot and was so excited to easily identify it! Zoey could easily identify the sounds of the crows as we walked to the nature area.

Writing in Her Nature Journal During a Birdwatching Nature Walk

Writing in Her Nature Journal During a Birdwatching Nature Walk

In addition to focusing on birds, Zoey’s using her nature journal to observe the day’s weather and moon phase.

Using Binoculars on a Birdwatching Nature Walk

Using Binoculars on a Birdwatching Nature Walk

Zoey loves using the binoculars.

Nature Walk Fun at 15 Months

Nature Walk Fun at 15 Months

Sophia isn’t interested in using the binoculars yet, but she loves the nature walks, too.

We’re having so much fun with birds and bird songs that I plan to keep our bird tray in an accessible place throughout the year. Not only can we observe birds from our back window and balcony, but we can easily pick up the materials to go on another birdwatching nature walk! Listening to and identifying bird songs is quite meditative, too … a perfect mindfulness activity (and a wonderful auditory sensorial activity) for us all!

More Bird Activities and Resources

HELPFUL ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION POSTS

Deb - Signature

If this is your first time visiting Living Montessori Now, welcome! If you haven’t already, please join us on our Living Montessori Now Facebook page where you’ll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! And please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest (lots of Montessori-, holiday-, and theme-related boards), and YouTube. While you’re here, please check out the Living Montessori Now shop.

And don’t forget one of the best ways to follow me by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You’ll receive some awesome freebies in the process!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Scarlet says

    Birdwatching is such a great way to get kids interested in nature and caring about animals. I took ornithology in college so of course I love it too:)