Wildlife found in the rear property
In the fascinating world of science, students at New Zealand's Level 2 and above can embark on an exciting journey of discovery with the educational resource, "Birds in my backyard". This resource, designed to engage young minds, encourages students to explore the captivating realm of birdwatching, a pursuit that supports various curriculum areas, including science, mathematics, and practical activities.
The resource fosters the development of observation skills, as students identify species, record behaviours, and gain an understanding of bird ecology and conservation. It encourages inquiry and data collection related to local bird life, providing a hands-on learning experience that is both educational and enjoyable.
Mathematics and statistics are integrated into the resource, with students tasked with data analysis activities such as counting bird species, recording frequencies, calculating averages or percentages of different bird types, and graphing observations to interpret patterns.
Beyond these core subjects, "Birds in my backyard" offers a plethora of additional activities. These range from constructing bird feeders and exploring bird adaptations to integrating art and writing projects about birds in the backyard.
The resource supports science learning, particularly in the area of living things being grouped in different ways and identifying birds by their physical features. To further aid this learning process, resources such as the Identification guide, New Zealand Birds Online, Department of Conservation's Bird songs and calls, or RNZ's The Birds are provided.
A bilingual poster for the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, featuring the names of common birds in te reo Māori and English, is also available for download.
The article "The takeaway table", published in the 2013 level 2 Connected journal, features a photo of students and birds, and supports learning in multiple curriculum areas. Readers are encouraged to create their own observation forms based on Room 3's observation form and share their findings with the class after their observations.
Additional activities include investigating the native and introduced species of observed birds, creating posters with bird-feeding tips, colouring-in pages, daily observation graphs, using eBird for data collection, and reading about community efforts to help native birds.
The Connected series, published annually by the Ministry of Education, New Zealand, is a valuable resource for educators and students alike, offering engaging and curriculum-aligned articles and activities. So, why not grab your binoculars, head out to your backyard or a nearby park, and start your birdwatching adventure today!
The resource, "Birds in my backyard," serves as an educational tool for both education-and-self-development and learning, offering various activities that encourage students to explore their surroundings and learn about bird ecology, conservation, and local bird life. This hands-on learning experience combines elements of science, mathematics, and practical activities, integrating subjects like data analysis, bird identification, and grouping living things in different ways.
