INVITATION TO LEARNING
CONNECT
Provide one or more of the nest photos available in the link below for learners to explore
Describe to a family member: What do you see? What do you think? What do you wonder?
- Whose nests could these be?
- Why do you think that?
EXPLORE
Watch a picture book read aloud: “Nesting” by Henry Cole. Click here to watch video - use the "generic Surrey Schools password" which is found by clicking the password button in the top right hand corner of this page.
The following discussion questions embedded throughout video:
Before Reading:
- What does the cover make you think about?
- Have you seen a nest before?
- What might happen in this book?
During Reading:
- What are you wondering about?
- Was there a time when you needed to be patient?
- (As snake approaches) What do you think might happen?
After Reading:
- What have you discovered about robins that you did not know before?
- Where in your neighbourhood might robins be building their nest?
SEL Conversations (Social Awareness, Perspective Taking)
- What does the mother bird do to keep the birds safe in the story? Who helps keep you safe? What are ways we can help keep each other safe?
- Why did the birds want to get rid of the snake?
- How do you think the snake felt when it was taken away from the nest? Why?
- How do you think the mom was feeling while she waited for the eggs to hatch?
- When is a time you had to wait for something that you really care about? How did it feel? What did you do?
RESPOND
Focus: Self-Awareness (identifying emotions, self-discipline)
In this story, the mother bird had to be very patient while she spent lots of time caring for the eggs until they hatch. But she knew that if she continued doing what was needed, eventually her patience would result in healthy baby birds! Think about a time you were excited to do something but had to wait to start it. Maybe it was waiting for the first day of school or your birthday. How did it feel to have to wait? What did you do while you were waiting? How did it feel when the waiting was over?
For example, right now is a time where we are all having to be patient while we wait to be back together at school. To me, I feel excited when I think about seeing everyone at school again, but sometimes this waiting feels frustrating because I want it to be here quickly. To help me manage my feelings while I’m waiting, I do things like see friends over the internet and try new activities at home, like drawing.
Share your ‘waiting story’ through speaking, writing, dancing, singing, drama and/or using materials you can find at home. Take a picture or video of your story to share with others
EVIDENCE OF LEARNING
The picture or video of the reader’s ‘waiting story’ shared on a digital platform.
POSSIBLE EXPLORATIONS
- Take a listening walk in your neighbourhood.
- Where do you hear birds?
- Do you hear “conversation back and forth”?
- What might the birds be saying?
- Song Sleuth – free app that identifies birds by their song
- Look closely for birds while walking in your neighbourhood.
- You might want to make binoculars for birdwatching using paper toilet rolls taped or glued together. binoculars.jpg
- What do you see birds doing? Perhaps you could keep track of how many birds you notice who are sitting, swimming, flying or walking by creating a tally sheet. Or, if you have access to a printer you might wish to print one Bird Watch Tally.pdf
- Remember to look up, do you see any nests? Please remember to look at but not touch any nests you discover.
- Robins are songbirds. What songbirds do you see in your neighbourhood? (Common Songbirds Guide.pdf) What other birds do you see? You might want to create your own bird book or guide.
- What materials can you collect to build a nest outside? What can you gather inside your home to build an indoor nest?
- Create a “how-to” book?
- Shared Reading – Key Links Big Book - Baboon’s Nest by Jill Eggleton Baboon's Nest.jpeg
ADDITIONAL DIGITAL RESOURCES
- A robin making a nest: (VIDEO LINK)
- Song Sleuth App – explore birds by their song
- Read aloud: "Fly" by Mark Teague VIDEO LINK - use the "generic Surrey Schools password" which is found by clicking the password button in the top right hand corner of this page
- First Peoples Principles of Learning - Extension Thinking and Learning Opportunities FPPL Nesting Extensions.docx
- Mystery Science Mini-Lesson: Top 5 Awesome Bird’s Nest (LINK)
- Raven's Nest - Photo by Mary Helmer, Skidegate Ravens Nest - Mary Helmer.jpg
- Mother duck Colouring Page - Artist: Michelle Stoney, Gitxsan Mother Duck - Michelle Stoney.jpg
- Surrey Eagle Live Stream (LINK)
CONNECTED PICTURE BOOKS
- Whose Nest? – Victoria Cochrane & Guy Troughton
- Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? – Rita Gray & Kenard Pak
- Birds Make Nests – Michael Garland
- All Kinds of Nests – Eun-gyu Choi & Ji-yeon Kim
- The Nest That Wren Built – Randi Sonenshine & Anne Hunter
- Bird Watch – Christie Matheson
- The Big Book of Birds – Yuval Zommer
- My Book of Birds – Geraldo Valerio
- This Is The Nest that Robin Built – Denise Fleming
- Mama Built a Little Nest – Jennifer Ward & Steve Jenkins
- A Nest Is Noisy – Dianna Aston & Sylvia Long
- More – I C Springman & Brian Lies
- Feathers: Not Just for Flying – Melissa Stewart & Sarah Brannen
- The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend & John Manders
