Winter Match My Call

Winter Match My Call

Materials

  • two sets of matching bird call cards (made ahead of time)

Bird – Bird Call
Black-capped Chickadee – Chick-a-dee-dee-dee
Crow – Caw, Caw
Barred Owl – Who cooks for you, Who cooks for you all
Tufted Titmouse – Peter, Peter, Peter
Wild Turkey – Gobble, Gobble, Gobble
Great Horned Owl – Hoot, Hoot, Hoot
Blue Jay – Jay, Jay, Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch – Yank, Yank, Yank
Carolina Wren – Tea Kettle, Tea Kettle, Tea Kettle
Cardinal – What Cheer, What Cheer, What Cheer

This game needs to be played in a large area such as a playground or gym.

Divide the group into two. Send each half to opposite ends of the playing area. Each half receives a set of bird calls. Tell the children that they will receive a card with a winter bird’s call. They should read the card quietly to themselves. (If they need help reading their card a friend can help them.) When the teacher gives a signal, the children all begin to make their bird calls.

They walk towards each other while calling. Each child listens for the person on the other side who has a match to their call. When all the ‘birds’ have been matched, ask the children why they think birds call to each other.

*In winter many birds travel in flocks and use their call to stay in contact with each other. Some birds use their call to alert other birds to a good food supply or to danger. Other birds, such as the cardinal and owls, begin to form mating pairs in the winter.

Activity provided by:

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

Age:
_ 0-1
_ 1-2
_ 2-3
✓ 3-4
✓ 4-5
✓ 5-6

Category: Group Activities

Iowa Early Learning Standards:
8.2, 9.3, 9.4, 10.4, 11.1, 11.2, 12.4, 13.2, 13.3, 14.3

Related Kindernature Resources: Other Resources: