Bird Study: From Observation to Invention

 Post contributed by Jocelyne Adkins, Program Director/Educator

This week, we focus our studies on birds. Today, we read "The Bird Alphabet Book" by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated with beautiful watercolors by Edgar Stewart. Students were introduced  to a variety of bird species, from the Blue-footed Booby with it's sky-blue webbed feet, to Jacanas that walk upon lily pads with their slender and extremely long feet. Many different characteristics among the bird species were noted, especially bird beaks, feet and body shapes. Characteristics have been adapted due a specie's habitat and diet, which will be discussed in more detail later in the week with a visit from Nigen Almasi, a Naturalist form the Traiside Nature Museum (please visit our post on Oct. 7th to find out more).

For the project, students were asked to invent themselves as a bird, "If you were a bird, what characteristics would you want and why?" They used colorful paper and colored pencils to create the inventive illustrations below: fanciful to forceful, these are birds to take note of : ) Nice work students!!!

Daysha

Jackson

Laila

Sylvia

Oliver

Heidi

Patrick

Donald