Bird's Nest
Students read a book about nests and then build their own bird's nest.
This is a adaptation of an activity from one of the National Office kits: Why Live Here?
What You Need
Materials
- 1 paper bowl per student
- 1 clothespin per student
- 1 paper/plastic/wooden egg per student
- Glue
- 1 large bag of a mix of paper straw/grass.
- Some small felt pieces, pompoms, cotton balls, paper straws cut in half, popsicle sticks, feathers, strings, etc. - Enough for each student to have some of each.
Guide:
Bird's Nest Book:
See attached guide for alternative activity supply list for virtual learners.
Safety Notes
As a Let’s Talk Science volunteer, safety must be foremost in our minds during all activities. As STEM role models, volunteers must always also model safe science practices.
Always keep in mind the following precautions:
- Emphasize and demonstrate appropriate safety procedures throughout the presentation.
- Be professional but have fun.
- Keep workspaces clean to avoid tripping hazards.
- Allergens should have been checked before reserving the kit (e.g. allergies to latex).
What To Do
- Discuss the needs of living things and why some animals build nests.
- Discuss the types of materials that birds use to make nests.
- Read the Birds Build Nests storybook to the class.
- Tell students that they will be pretending to be a bird and will build their own nest.
- Give each student a paper bowl. They will build their nest by placing some glue in the bowl and sticking the nesting material to the bowl.
- Distribute clothespins to each student. They will use as their beak to collect the materials for the nest, like a bird would in nature.
- Spread the building materials from the plastic bag all over the floor in the classroom. Students will have to collect it using their clothespin "beaks".
- Once everyone has successfully created a nest, have each student or pair show their nest and briefly describe what they did and the materials they used.
Discovery
A nest is a place where an animal lives and raises their young. Nests help keep birds, squirrels and other animals safe from predators. Nests can be made out of grass, sticks, mud, spider webs and any other materials they can find.
Students learn that animals live almost everywhere- from ponds and forests to towns and tundra. All living things share the Earth and it is important to protect animal habitats for future generations.
What's Happening?
A nest is a place where an animal lives and raises their young. Nests help keep birds, squirrels and other animals safe from predators. Nests can be made out of grass, sticks, mud, spider webs and any other materials they can find.
Why does it matter?
Students learn that animals live almost everywhere- from ponds and forests to towns and tundra. All living things share the Earth and it is important to protect animal habitats for future generations.