Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will understand what bird migration is, why birds migrate, and some types of birds that migrate. The student will also engage in fun activities to reinforce their learning about these fascinating journeys.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Colored pencils or crayons
• Scissors
• Glue
• A large piece of cardboard or a poster board
• A comfortable space to sit and work

Make sure to have a quiet area where the student can focus. It's helpful to know a few examples of migratory birds, like the Monarch butterfly (even though it's not a bird, it’s a great example of migration), the Arctic Tern, and the Canada Goose, to share during the lesson.

Activities

• Bird Migration Story Time:

  Start by reading a simple story about bird migration. You can make up a fun story about a bird named "Bobby the Bluebird" who travels south for the winter. This will help the student understand the concept of migration in a fun way.

• Migration Map:

  Using the cardboard or poster board, the student can draw a map showing where birds like Bobby start and where they go. They can use colored pencils to mark the journey and add fun details like mountains, rivers, and weather conditions.

• Bird Migration Art:

  Have the student create their own migratory bird using paper and colored pencils. They can decorate it and then cut it out. This will help them visualize what a migratory bird looks like while using their creativity.

• Bird Watching:

  Go outside for a few minutes and see if you can spot any birds. Talk about how some of them might be migratory birds. This will help connect the lesson to real life.

Talking Points

• "Do you know that some birds travel really far when the seasons change? That's called migration!"
• "Why do you think birds fly south for the winter? It's because they want to find warmer places with more food!"
• "Can you name a bird that migrates? The Arctic Tern is special because it travels the farthest of all birds!"
• "When birds migrate, they often fly in a 'V' shape. Do you know why? It helps them save energy!"
• "Some birds come back to the same place every year. Isn’t that cool? They remember where to go!"
• "What do you think happens to the birds that don’t migrate? They might stay and find ways to survive the cold!"