Discuss migration with students. Explain the reason why many birds migrate to warmer climates during the winter months. Inform children that many species of birds remain in the north during the winter months. Provide students with examples and illustrations of some winter birds; downy woodpecker, robin, goldfinches and crows, for example.
Offer children coloring pages of winter birds. Instruct them to use crayons to color in the pictures of the birds, using actual pictures of them as references.
Read informational books about species of winter birds. Review the information and the pictures presented in the books.
Explain how these birds remain warm and gain shelter during the winter months. Inform children that these birds often fluff up their feathers and remain still to stay warm and that they seek shelter in pine trees or birdhouses.
Inform children that it can be difficult for these birds to find food and that humans can supply them with food. Help them create bird feeders for winter birds by covering pine cones with peanut butter or shortening and rolling them in bird seed. Hang the pine cones from trees and watch to see if birds feed from them.
Instruct children to track the birds that they see during the winter season. Encourage children to use their coloring pages as references for winter bird watching. Have them record the types of birds that they see and where they see them. Invite them to share the types of birds that they observe.