Today's Tip for Families

2026-06-04

Watch Birds to Teach Science and More

To develop your child’s interest in science, link it to the everyday world all around. One way to do this is to encourage your child to keep a record of the birds in your neighborhood. Your elementary schooler can draw them, write descriptions or take pictures.

As you watch birds together, use them to begin conversations about real-life experiences. Ask questions, such as:

How do baby birds learn to fly?
What do parent birds do to encourage them to leave the nest?
Do you think the baby birds are afraid when they are learning to fly?
Why do they need to learn?
What are some things you might be afraid to do but know you need to learn?

As a result of observing the birds, your child may develop an interest in learning more about them, such as their scientific names. You may want to watch videos or go online together to learn more. Bird identification apps, such as Merlin from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, can help your student identify birds by region and description.

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West Point Consolidated School District