Bird Shapes

Materials

• 3 laminated bird pictures
• sticky backed foam precut into geometric shapes (toddlers – 3)
• construction paper precut into shapes (ages 3 – 6)
• glue sticks (ages 3 – 6)
• background paper

Background Information

Birds’ bodies are a matter of form and function.
A hummingbird is small with a long beak for drinking nectar.
A penguin has extra fat to keep it warm. Its body is streamlined for swimming. Its beak handles swallowing fish.
An albatross has a wide wing spread for long flights over water.

Activity

This activity is best for children who are somewhat familiar with recognizing the basic shapes.

Show the children the laminated pictures of the hummingbird, penguin, and albatross. Have them look for shapes such as ovals and triangles within the birds’ bodies.

If your site has bird activity, set up some simple bird feeders and let the children observe the birds in action. Talk about the shapes seen in the birds that you and the children are watching.

This is a good center activity. Set out the materials and let the children use the shapes to create their birds. Have a bird “show and tell”. The children can name their bird and tell what it does to get food and how it moves. (All answers are acceptable.)

Activities provided by:

Fontenelle Forest
1111 N. Bellevue Blvd.
Bellevue, NE 68005
www.fontenelleforest.org