10 Fun and Feathery Bird Activities for Preschool

| Last Updated: September 17, 2022

There are so many fun activities you can do with your preschoolers to teach them about birds! Sorting different types of bird feathers is a great way to help your child learn about birds’ different colors and shapes. Watching birds in your backyard or nearby park is also a great way to spend quality time together while learning about these amazing creatures. And what could be more fun than making a sensory bin filled with bird nests and eggs? Your child will love exploring all the different textures and colors.

Great Bird Activities for Preschool

The activities below are designed to help your little ones learn more about birds while having a lot of fun. These activities can be done indoors and outdoors, so they’re perfect for days when you can’t make it to the park. And best of all, these activities are mostly free – you probably have everything you need at the right home!

Sorting | Size Recognition | Color Recognition

1. Bird Sorting

Photo credit: activity-mom.com

Making this craft is a great way to introduce sorting to young children. They will learn how to match objects by color, shape, and size. This fun activity can be done with a group or individually.

You will need brown paper bags, scissors, and printed bird picture cards to make this craft. The first step is to print and cut the bird picture cards. Once the cards are printed, you will need to make the nests. To do this, simply roll the top of the brown paper bag down and scrunch it. Keep rolling and scrunching until you reach the bottom of the bag.

Once you have made the nests, you can start sorting the birds. To sort by color, match the colored bird to the colored nest. To sort by shape, match the shaped bird to the shaped nest. To sort by size, match the sized bird to the sized nest. This is a great activity for young children to learn about sorting. It is also a lot of fun! Try it today!

Try it today! Visit The Activity Mom.

Nature | Gross Motor Skills | Identifying Bird Species

2. Bird Watching

Bird watching is a great activity for kids of all ages. It’s a perfect way to get outside and learn about nature. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!

You’ll need to learn three main skills to be a successful birder: how to use binoculars, identify birds, and keep track of what you see.

Here are a few tips to get started:

First, you’ll need a good pair of binoculars. You can find these at your local sporting goods store or online. 

Second, invest in a good bird book. This will help you identify the different types of birds that you see. 

Third, get a notebook and pen to keep track of the birds you spot. Lastly, don’t forget to bring food and water for yourself, as well as some comfortable walking shoes.

Now that you have all the necessary supplies, it’s time to go birding! Here are a few instructions to help you get started:

First, find a comfortable spot where you can sit or stand and get a good view of the area. Second, take a few minutes to scan the area with your binoculars. See if you can spot any birds. Third, consult your bird book to identify the bird species. Fourth, note where and when you saw the bird in your notebook. Fifth, repeat!

Remember, the key to successful birding is patience and observation. So take your time, have fun, and enjoy the beauty of nature!

Happy bird watching! Check out Kitchencounterchronicle.com for more tips too.

Fine Motor | Nature | Attention to Details

3. Explore Bird Beaks

Making Explore Bird Beaks is a great way to learn about the different ways birds eat. This activity will help teach your child three important skills: observation, research, and classification.

To make your beaks, you’ll need the following supplies: scissors, tweezers, chopsticks, straws, and pliers. For the bird food, you’ll need juice, marshmallows, gummies in sugar, rice, and pistachios.

Here are some instructions to get you started:

  1. Cut different shapes out of the marshmallows using the scissors. “Hide” the marshmallows in a bowl of sugar. 

  2. Add dried rice with a few colored grains into a bowl.

  3. Put juice in a cup for each child and give them a straw. 

  4. Discuss the different shapes and types of tools you’ll be using and how they relate to different types of beaks.

  5. Use the tweezers to pick up grains of rice. This mimics a woodpecker picking bugs out of a tree.

  6. Use chopsticks to retrieve gummies out of the sugar. This shows how birds dig up worms from the ground.

  7. Use the straw to drink the juice to imitate hummingbirds drinking nectar. 

  8. Use the pliers to crack open the pistachios. This is a similar motion to birds cracking open seeds with their beaks.

Try this at home. Try swapping different beaks (tools) on the bird meals. What did they accomplish? Learn about birds and create lists of species with similar beaks. What additional similarities do the birds on each list share?

Download these bird beaks at Blessed Beyond A Doubt and different kinds of feeding images to help you with your research.

Gross Motor Skills | Imagination | Creativity

4. Build a Nest Sensory Bin

This sensory bin is perfect for exploring the concept of nests and birds. It’s a great way to learn about different textures and colors and how to use your imagination! Plus, it’s super easy to set up, and you probably already have most of the supplies! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • A shallow plastic container
  • Bird seed
  • Tiny birdhouse
  • Nest
  • Artificial bird eggs
  • Fake birds
  • Fishing worms
  • Natural materials like sticks, acorns, leaves, and moss (optional)

Simply fill the container with bird seed to set up your sensory bin. Add the fake birds, wooden birdhouse, and pretend nest. If you’re using fishing worms, add those too. Finally, top it off with some natural materials for added interest.

Now it’s time to play! Encourage your child to explore the sensory bin using all their senses. They can scoop, pour, and sift the bird seed. They can touch the different textures of the birdseed, fake birds, and natural materials. And they can use their imagination to create their own stories about what’s happening in the bin.

When you’re done playing, simply store the sensory bin in a plastic bag or container for next time.  Your child will love it!

It’s that easy! So go ahead, visit Fantastic Fun & Learning and try it.

Fine Motor Skills | Painting | Creativity

5. Paper Plate Bird Craft

Photo credit: pocketofpreschool.com

This is a fun and easy craft for kids that can be done with just a few supplies! Plus, it’s a great way to teach your child about birds!

Supplies:

  • Half a paper plate
  • Googly eyes
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Orange or yellow paper
  • Glue
  • Feathers 
  • Paint 

Directions:

  1. First, have your child cut their paper plate in half and paint it. You can use regular paint or glue so students can add feathers to their birds while they are still wet!

  2. Once the paint is dry, help your child bend a pipe cleaner in half and glue it to the back of the paper plate for the bird’s legs. Then, add two googly eyes and an orange or yellow beak.

  3. That’s it! Your child’s paper plate bird is now complete!

There you have it! A fun and easy paper plate bird craft that your child will love. They’ll also learn about birds while they’re at it! So go ahead and give it a try today.

If you think your child will love it, why not look at Pocket of Preschool for more pieces?

Creative Thinking | Sorting | Color Recognition

6. Make Playdough Birds

To make these sweet little birds, start by having your child sort the feathers into piles by color. This is an excellent opportunity to talk about colors and practice fine motor skills. Once the feathers are sorted, invite your child to select a color of play dough. Help them roll it into a ball, then flatten it into a disk. Place two googly eyes on the disk, then add a beak made from a small foam triangle. Finally, help your child press feathers into the play dough around the edge of the disk. Aren’t they adorable? And they’re such a fun way to practice color recognition and sorting, fine motor skills, and creative thinking!

You can also use this activity to talk about different kinds of birds and their habitats. What kind of bird is your child making? Where does it live? What does it eat? This is a great opportunity to introduce your child to new vocabulary words and concepts!

So have fun, get creative, and enjoy quality time making these sweet playdough birds with your little one!

This activity is great for kids, so check this out at Fantastic Fun & Learning.

Comprehension | Imagination | Listening Skills

7. Read Books About Birds

Photo credit: empoweredparents.co

Do you want to teach your child about birds? Reading books is a great way to learn about different types of birds and their habits. Here are three skills that your child can learn by reading books about birds:

  • Classifying birds by their characteristics
  • Learning the names of different parts of a bird
  • Recognizing bird songs

Here are some popular titles about birds:

Birds – Kevin Henkes

Peck, Peck, Peck – Lucy Cousins

My Backyard Bird Book – Cheryl Johnson

Are You My Mother? – P.D. Eastman

A Mother for Choco – Keiko Kasza

Parrots Over Puerto Rico – Susan Roth and Cindy Trumbore

Make Way for Ducklings – Robert McCloskey

Owl Moon – Jane Yolen

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – Mo Willems

Reading these books with your child will be fun to spend time together while learning about birds! Plus, you might even learn a thing or two yourself. Happy reading!

Do you have a favorite book about birds that you would recommend? You can also visit Empowered Parents for more great ideas. 

Identifying Types of Birds | Reading | Writing

8. Bird Songs and Poems

Photo credit: dltk-kids.com

This activity is perfect for parents and teachers of preschoolers who want to help their kids learn about birds! By learning three simple skills, your child can explore the world of bird songs and poems.

Some of the examples of bird songs and poems are:

Goosey, Goosey Gander  (poem)

Bluebird  (poem)

Five Little Chickens  (lyrics, crafts, coloring pages)

Calico Pie  (poem)

Five Little Ducks  (lyrics, crafts, coloring pages)

Rash Little Sparrow  (poem)

Five Little Owls (lyrics, crafts, coloring pages)

Goose with the Golden Eggs  (fable)

Red-Bird  (poem)

Rash Little Sparrow  (poem)

Robin’s Bath  (poem)

Swan  (poem)

Six Little Ducks  (lyrics, crafts, coloring pages)

The Canary  (poem)

These songs and poems will help your child develop a love for birds and an appreciation for the natural world! And what could be more fun than spending time together making bird songs and poems?

By learning these skills, your child can enjoy bird songs and poems in no time! And who knows, they may even be inspired to write their bird poems one day.

Do you have a favorite bird song or poem? Check out the full list at Dltk-kids.com.

Recycling | Critical Thinking | Gross Motor Skills

9. Make a Human-Sized Bird Nest

This is a fun activity you and your child can do together. It will be a great bonding experience, and they’ll also learn important skills. Here are the three skills they’ll learn:

  • How to recycle materials
  • How to work with different materials
  • How to build something from scratch

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Large boxes
  • Sticky tape
  • Glue
  • Natural materials a bird might use in their nest 
  • Recycled materials

Let’s get started!

  1. Help your child collect all of the supplies. Once you have everything you need, it’s time to start building the nest.
  1. The first step is to glue or tape the boxes together. Once the boxes are securely taped or glued together, it’s time to start shaping the nest.
  1. To roll out into one long length, you’ll need to cut down one side of each box. Once you’ve done this, use the cardboard box flaps to assist, sit it upright and join the boxes together. Make sure the flaps are inside the ring.
  1. Now, use the creases in the boxes to origami them into a circular shape. Join all the boxes until they make a single ring. With any leftover boxes, you can attach them to the flaps on the bottom of the nest for extra security.
  1. Now it’s time to start filling the nest with materials. Birds use different materials in their nests, so get creative! You can use bark, sticks, leaves, and even recycled materials like newspaper strips or shredded paper.

Once the nest is full, it’s time to sit back and admire your handiwork! This human-sized bird nest will surely be a hit with the whole family.

Did you find this activity to be fun and exciting? You can get more details at Homeschoolpreschool.net.

Nature | Fine Motor Skills | Following Instructions

10. Make a Birdfeeder

Making a birdfeeder is a fun and easy activity that can be done with kids of all ages. It’s a great way to teach them about nature and the environment; they’ll have a blast doing it!

Here’s what you’ll need to make your birdfeeders:

  • Peanut butter
  • Empty toilet paper tubes
  • Bird seed
  • String, twine, or pipe cleaners to hang them

Instructions:

Spread peanut butter outside of a tube with an icing spreader or a butter knife. After that, roll the coated tubes in a shallow dish full of bird seed. Shake off the extra seeds; this step might get messy, so do it outside or on the deck if possible.

Hang your bird feeders from a tree or other high place, and wait for the birds to come! Be sure to check on them regularly and refill them as needed. Enjoy watching the birds as they feed, and see how many different types you can spot!

This is an excellent activity for kids of all ages, and it’s a perfect way to teach them about nature and the environment. With just a few supplies, you can make your own birdfeeders and enjoy watching the birds as they come to feed. So get out there and give it a try! We’re sure you’ll have a blast!

You may check out Homeschoolpreschool.net for more detailed instructions if you like this bird feeder idea.

Conclusion 

These are just a few fun activities you can teach your preschoolers about birds. You can help your little ones learn all about these amazing creatures by getting creative and using some simple materials. And who knows, maybe you’ll even get some fresh air in the process!



Hi, I'm Amanda! Welcome to Education Outside! Im passionate about educating young minds and helping parents/teachers by providing easy and effective teaching resources. Check out all of my teaching resources on my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

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