Explorify logo Homepage
  • Why Explorify?
  • Teacher support
  • Log in
  • Sign up free Sign up
  • Explorify logo Homepage
  • Why Explorify?
  • Teacher support
  • Login
Helpful reads

Fun science with feathered friends!

Explore the science related to birds and their habitats.

Four cute cygnets, who hatch later in spring – something to look forward to!

Four cute cygnets, who hatch later in spring – something to look forward to!

Share

  • Share via email

We've gathered a huge flock of bird-related activities for you in this activity collection.

  • All of the activities are available when you are logged in to Explorify – all are suitable for use in the classroom or via screensharing. 
  • For a smaller collection of activities suitable for parents and carers of one or more children who are now learning at home, try our Explorify at home: Birds collection.

The activities are divided into age ranges. Take a look through and pick some for your class to explore at home or in the classroom!

Age 5-7 

Baby animals

These three fun animals – a baby duckling, a lamb, and an elephant – are perfect for a light Odd One Out.

Muddy meal

Spark a conversation with this What's Going On? video showing an egret hunting for food. 

Special delivery 

This video showing baby birds being fed is a favourite with pupils – and teachers!

To flee or not to flee

A wonderful array of animals on the move feature in this fun What's Going On? video, including a grizzly bear, meerkats, chickens, penguins, ostriches, greylag geese, a pangolin, flamingos, langur monkeys and kangaroos! 

Unexpected eggs

We might think mainly of birds hatching from egg, but this video will introduce another sort of animal hatching - a reptile! Indeed, the majority of animals reproduce by laying eggs including all insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles and (of course) birds.

Creature comforts 

This Zoom In Zoom Out starts with a yellow feathery texture… will your little scientists be able to use their reasoning to work out what the final picture will show?

A home for baby birds 

In these Odd One Out images, you see three baby birds in the nest - a rook, a long tailed tit, and a swan with their cygnet. 

Age 7-9 

Barnacle dive

Not for the faint hearted, this death-defying barnacle gosling jump is a heart-stopping jumping off point for a discussion of habitats and much more. 

Lyre liar 

This wonderful, fascinating video with David Attenborough meeting a Lyrebird, famous for its ability to mimic sounds from its environment, will prompt wonder in your class and a rich discussion.

Strange Stripes 

Knock me down, this Zoom In Zoom Out starts with strange stripes and ends with… a feather! Can your little scientists work out what it is?

The sound of silence 

This beautiful video shows and compares in detail the flight of three birds, a pigeon, a peregrine falcon, and a magisterial barn owl, silent as the night. Great for developing understandings of animals, and of sound.  

Feathered friends

The three birds shown here are an ostrich, a wren and a barn owl. Which will your little scientists think is the Odd One Out?  

Why do some birds migrate

Another Big Question investigation to really get your class thinking like scientists. How will they investigate which birds migrate and which choose to stay?

Light as air

Zoom out on the skeleton of a pink-footed goose. Can your class use their reasoning skills to work out what it is?

Thirsty work

Spark a conversation with this video giving a glimpse into the African savanna. Has your class ever wondered how different animals drink water?

Funny bones

Three skeletons – a bird, a snake, and an elephant – will get your learners deciding which one is the Odd One Out and why. Encourage a reason for every answer (and there is no wrong answer)!

Age 9-11 

How old is that chicken? 

Dinosaurs! These two, ancestors of modern birds (and a chicken), are sure to get your class' discussion roaring.

What if penguins could fly?

Get your class thinking and talking with this fun question! Having a broad question means you'll get a wide range of ideas coming from your pupils.

Perfect Pinchers 

Which is the Odd One Out of these three different beaks? Get a discussion going with a puffin, a lapwing and a macaw.

Takeaway Dinner 

Just as the early bird gets the worm, in this astounding What's Going On? video from BBC Earth, the clever bird gets its dinner…

Terrific Tree Dwellers 

Put your class' observation skills to the test with these three tree-dwelling animals: a sloth, a 'monkey frog', and a crimson sunbird!

Unusual Blackbirds 

Which is the Odd One Out of these three, unusual, blackbirds of different colours? Remember, there's no wrong answer in the discussion!

In a flap!

Put your class' observation skills to the test with this Odd One Out featuring a bat, a pterodactyl and a dragonfly. None of the three is a bird (they are a mammal, a reptile and an insect respectively), yet they all fly!

 

We hope you enjoy teaching these activities! As a little bird told us, if you let them spread their wings, your budding scientists will take to these activities like ducks to water!
 

Image credit: Close-up of 4 Mute Swan cygnets (Cygnus olor) swimming close together by Ger Bosma Photos via Shutterstock SL

Last updated 7th March 2023

Share

  • Share via email

Did you find this article useful?

More from Helpful reads

View all
'Tis the season to have fun with science

Deck the school hall with boughs of science…

Read now
Branch out – with the science of trees

Inspired by Trees? Your little scientists will love these tree themed activities.

Read now

Other Teacher support:

Science teaching support How to use Explorify What's new Science leader toolkit Downloads

Join Explorify today to take your class on an exciting science adventure!

We use cookies to make Explorify even more awesome for you. Find out more.

Explorify logo

About Explorify

  • How to use Explorify
  • Our story
  • Partners
  • Why Explorify?

Teacher support

  • Downloads
  • Helpful reads
  • Science leader toolkit
  • Science teaching support

Support

  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • Privacy and Terms of Use
  • What’s new?
Wellcome Trust Wellcome Trust Funded by Wellcome

Stem Learning logo Primary Science Teaching Trust logo

Explorify Staffroom on Facebook Explorify on Twitter Explorify on Instagram Explorify on Linkedin Explorify on Tiktok

Grant number 223594/Z/21/Z

Managed by STEM Learning and the Primary Science Teaching Trust