First Graders' Inquiry Into Bird Nests

A science methods teacher takes her pre-service teachers to a first grade classroom in a district some of them will be student teaching in. The youngsters were observing a collection of bird... See More

A science methods teacher takes her pre-service teachers to a first grade classroom in a district some of them will be student teaching in. The youngsters were observing a collection of bird nests and handling some of them. The author mentioned the importance of considering safety first. She discussed the importance of disinfecting the nests and requiring students to wear protective gear. She also mentioned that there were laws in some states against collecting bird nests without a special permit. Pre-service teachers were able to observe children behaving like scientists – using notebooks, wearing lab coats, and exploring nature in the classroom. The first grade teacher used the students’ experiences with nests to launch a series of inquiry learning activities. The class ended with a “Bye Bye Birdie” game that reinforced what the children had been learning about habitats and the need for balance in nature. There is also a literacy connection using a book by Eastman called “The Best Nest”.