This year, we'll be using a co-op for one class only - science. Each week, we'll spend one afternoon with others learning about God's creation and order for our world and the things in it.
As per most co-ops, I need to volunteer for our family to participate. This year, like the past two, I am teaching the youngest students, specifically Kindergarten through second grade science. Our co-op has grown since last year and a new third/fourth grade science class was added to keep class sizes from growing too large. Even though my class lost the third graders, the new K-2nd grade class has 19 students. {It was a wise move.}
Three units are typically taught each year. Last year, the students learned about biomes, outer space, and the human body. Spine books from Apologia or Answers in Genesis are used for topics and general information. Additional resources and activities are added.
For the current school year {co-op classes start this week!}, I will be using Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day, God's Design for Heaven and Earth: Our Planet Earth, and God's Design for the Physical World: Machines and Motions as spine books. Our main topics are birds/insects, geology, and simple machines. Since our first unit covers birds and insects, I have been compiling various resources, sites, and ideas for each.
A sampling of what I've found thus far...
Free printables ~
- Coloring Pages (for younger children)
- Bird Journal (1/2 sheet booklet)
- Bird Journal (full sheet pages for older kids)
- Backyard Bird Emergent Reading book
Informative Articles and Helps ~
- How to ID a Bird (5 suggestions)
- Identify a Bird with Sounds and Illustrations
- How to Identify Parts of a Bird
- How to Identify Feathers
- Parts of a Bird Wing
- Information and Diagrams about Birds' Feet
Free Lesson Ideas ~
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- art lesson on drawing a bird's head found here
- nature study page with videos
Activity Ideas ~
- Bird Beak Experiments
- Bird Hunt with Paper Birds
- build a bird feeder with a Pringles can
- string circle shaped cereal to feed birds
Books and Resources ~
- a list of bird books (we are using the Nat Geo book)
- poster identifying birds ($)
- paper cut out birds ($)
- nature cards of birds ($)
Websites ~
If you like, you can follow along as I find more teacher resources, books, and activities for birds on Pinterest.
*Photographs from a recent Birds in Action talk and demonstration at our local zoo.
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