We are excited to introduce “Birds and their Eggs.” Alison’s Montessori is dedicated to creating engaging and educational materials that foster a passion for learning in children. One of our newest creations, “Birds and their Eggs,” is designed to introduce elementary learners to an exploratory material on birds and their eggs that can integrate with the Montessori zoology curriculum. Our comprehensive set includes a wooden puzzle with hand drawn graphics featuring common birds and their corresponding eggs, a collection of eight research cards, and 32 task cards. These materials offer a visual and kinesthetic approach to learning, encouraging children to observe, categorize, and develop an understanding of birds and their unique characteristics.
All the birds featured in our new material, “Birds and their Eggs,” are readily observable in North America. The Northern Cardinal, the Blue Jay, the American Robin, and the Northern Mockingbird are common residents throughout much of North America. The Wild Eastern Turkey is a widespread species across the eastern United States, while the Canada Goose is a migratory bird that breeds in North America and winters further south. Another common bird is the American Goldfinch, which is a summer resident across most of North America. Finally, the iconic Bald Eagle is a resident across much of North America, though its population was once decimated. In this blog post, we will showcase “Birds and their Eggs Complete Set” and explain how to effectively use it as a guide to enhance learning in the classroom.
Materials
- Birds and their Eggs Complete Set
- Birds and their Eggs Research Cards
- Birds and their Eggs Task Cards
Related materials: Parts of a Bird Puzzle (Elementary) and Nomenclature Cards, State Birds of the United States Flash Cards, Types of Birds Nomenclature Cards (Printed), Types of Birds Puzzle
How to Organize the Materials
Begin by gathering the children around the puzzle and control chart. Remove the eggs shapes from the frame and place them on the left side of the puzzle. Ask your learners questions that will stimulate their minds, and provide you information about their background knowledge, “What kinds of birds do you see in our neighborhood or at the park? Have you ever noticed different types of birds eggs? What did they look like? Why do you think birds have different shapes and color of eggs?”
PUZZLE & CONTROL CHART
You may continue, “Today, we are going to learn about different North American birds and their eggs. This puzzle will help us understand how each bird’s egg looks and match them correctly. Let’s look at the control chart first, which shows us pictures of the birds and their eggs. We will use this chart to help us place the puzzle pieces in the right frames.” Show the children how to use the control chart to identify each bird and its egg while naming it. Once the puzzle is completed, use the research cards to provide more details about the birds.
RESEARCH CARDS WITH PUZZLE
After introducing the puzzle with control chart, you can elevate the experience by incorporating the corresponding research cards. The research cards, which detail the physical characteristics, habitats, and egg appearances for each featured bird, provide a rich source of information that supports the puzzle activity. Once the puzzle completed, read the research cards and discuss the birds unique features and behaviors. Encourage your learners to compare and contrast the birds to further solidify their understanding. The research cards can serve as springboard for further research. This material is also serve as an entry point to investigating topics like bird migration.
TASK CARDS WITH RESEARCH CARDS
The task cards are divided into four sections. The “Introduction” section is designed to activate prior knowledge. You can begin by asking children the first questions, “What do you know about the American Goldfinch?” One possible answer is provided on the back of each card, which is a summary of the content of the research card. Next, the “Identifying Birds” and “Identifying Eggs” sections feature pictures of a bird or an egg. You may guide children to observing details such as plumage color, beak shape, and size to make accurate identifications. Finally, the “Advanced” section provides detailed information about a specific bird and ask to identify a bird by reading the information on the card. The last section challenges children to apply their knowledge and critical thinking skills to deduce the bird’s identify based on the given facts.
By incorporating our new materials on Bird and their Eggs into your classroom, you can create an enriching and dynamic learning environment that fosters independent work and an appreciation for the natural world. Our unique materials are aligned with the Montessori principles and can be adapted for various age groups. For more innovative Montessori materials, make sure to regularly visit our website at www.alisonsmontessori.com.
