This House Finch male knew I was near, he heard the camera shutter click. What does a bird look like when it is listening? Like this.

The Birds Will Tell You

Hello dear families! This is another distance learning activity for Big Screen Families with kids at home.

Today’s activity is a bird walk. Wait a moment…before you and the kids begin your bird walk, ask them what they know about birds first.

Grab your family walk notebook. Let’s call it what it is now: a “Walk Journal.” Talk with them about birds, write down the ideas you like best.

Think of the questions YOU have about birds before you go out. If your kids do not ask any questions…ask them one of yours.

NO questions? Look at the bird photo below:

This bird…flies using feathers, has its own unique songs, does mysterious migrations without GPS, it spends the night in places we cannot see…any questions now?

Then make your list of bird ideas, get your outdoor gear on for a Bird Walk! Before you go…read today’s scripture to them:

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? Job 12:7-9

Now let’s take our bird walk lead from the Bible…make this your big question to the kids:

What can the birds tell us?

Some suggestions, explore the birds you can find in your neighborhood…

*You do not need to name them…have your kids give the birds the name they agree on. If they want to call it the little brown bird, they have company. Birders call the little brown birds so difficult to identify, “little brown jobs.”

*Let your kids take the lead, listen to what they say about birds. Join the conversation, but listen most.

*If things seem slow, like you aren’t seeing many birds as you walk, stop everyone. Stand still to listen. Remind the kids to search the sky for birds. That should help. Next, ask a question to prime them into deeper engagement.

a. What are the birds doing?

b. How do they fly?

c. What do they sound like?

d. What colors do you see?

Did I say do not try to name them yet? The reason not to name is in order that first they see the wonder, the awe in birds. They fly!, They sing! They migrate without GPS. There is mystery in birds. Don’t worry about names. Focus on the awe things. One more thing...expand bird walks beyond your neighborhood.

*After a few expeditions in your neighborhood, when your kids seem comfortable with the birds in your neighborhood, plan an expedition to a nearby wilder place than your neighborhood. There will likely be more birds in the more wild place. Plan to spend an hour, if possible, an hour is really a short period of time when the goal is to discover what birds in their habitat are doing. Besides everyone needs time to relax…

*Head back to the kitchen table. Grab that Family Walk Journal…write a Title on a new page: “The (Name of the Place) birds”… Ask your expedition (the kids) to tell you what they remember about birds.

You got this one mom and dad…birds: in your neighborhood and beyond!

Bonus Idea: The big question whenever you look at birds…What can the birds tell us?” Don’t waste time telling your kids birds can’t talk. Just ask them “what can they tell us?” This question will generate many discussions…and point all of you to the Creator of the birds!

Read the scripture on birds to close:

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

or let the fish in the sea inform you.

Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

Job 12:7-9

What have the eyes of this Red Tailed Hawk seen on its northbound migration journey?

All is well family and friends, God is near, He loves us!

Return to Creator Words soon, the next Big Screen Family creatorwords.com blog will be about rain…

Distance Learning...Birds Will Tell You