Educator/Home School Resources

Educator/Home School Resources

Project FeederWatch can help engage children in the excitement of nature study and the wonder of scientific investigation by encouraging careful observation and note-taking stimulating children to ask questions about the natural world encouraging independent study providing opportunities for meaningful Internet use and exploration
FeederWatching for Home Schoolers
	*NEW* A free science module for homeschoolers that focuses on Project FeederWatch! The curriculum is currently in a trial phase, so please provide feedback to help us improve this resource. Download the Project FeederWatch/BirdSleuth curriculum (pdf). For additional free resources to assist with inquiry-based learning projects, download the Investigating Evidence module from the BirdSleuth web site. Take a survey to let us know how we can improve the new curriculum.
"Project FeederWatch converts casual bird observation into disciplined science and has become an integral part of the science curriculum in my daughter's home schooling program." --Nancy Hough, New York, New York "As home schoolers, one of our goals is to empower our children to be motivated self-learners. That means they need to see learning not as a scheduled assignment--done Monday through Friday--but as a lifestyle. Project FeederWatch is perfect for this." --Leigh and family, Nebo, North Carolina
FeederWatch-related activities and learning You can investigate an array of natural mysteries while participating in Project FeederWatch. The following FeederWatch-related activities have been contributed by educators across the continent. They are designed to strengthen such skills as observation, identification, research, computation, writing, creativity, and more.
Science Natural history: Research and study the strategies birds use to survive Identification: Use FeederWatch's Common Feeder Birds poster to learn how to identify the birds that visit your feeders
Meteorology: Monitor weather conditions to see how birds alter their feeding habits Physics/aerodynamics: observe the different flight patterns of feeder birds Animal behavior: Are some species solitary while others are gregarious? Do different species have different food preferences? Math Weigh the bird seed in your feeder before and after each count and compute how much seed was eaten. After several counts, calculate average consumption rate. Test and predict how often feeders need to be refilled. Writing/Literature Journal keeping Poetry Creative writing Etymology--research the history of bird names Geography Map your count site Research the geographic ranges of birds (see the FeederWatch map room) Learn the official bird of all U.S. states and Canadian provinces History Develop a time line charting the extinction of a bird such as the Passenger Pigeon Research famous bird biologists or artists Learn the history of bird-related laws Art Sketch the birds at your feeders Create bird masks Create models of bird wings, bills, and feet Music Research music that has been influenced by bird song Study bird songs and calls Make your own feeder bird recordings Additional Resources Learn about birds on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds web sites Explore Data submitted by FeederWatch participants Join Project FeederWatch and receive a Research Kit containing the Common Feeder Birds poster, a color 14-month calendar, the FeederWatcher's Handbook, and more. FeederWatch participants also receive the Lab's newsletter, BirdScope.

� 2007 Express written permission required for use of images or text on these pages.

FeederWatch is a joint research and education project of: