ABSTRACT
Children listen carefully to the birds in their school environment. They learn why birds make sounds and that birds can be identified by listening to birdsong. Play children a selection of recorded birdsongs, e.g. wood pigeon, blackbird, and blue tit. Challenge children to choose a bird they can hear in the school environment and imitate it. Birds use their voices to communicate with other birds as a warning, to mark territory or when mating. This is an efficient way to communicate over distance. Children produce observational sketches or download pictures of birds in the school grounds then research information, taking notes and representing the information as a fact sheet. These could be laminated and displayed around the school grounds as part of a wildlife trail. Children could also include a QR code which links the reader to additional online information about each bird. Play copycats where the children imitate a birdsong, first copying with voices then clapping the rhythm.
