Title – Billie Bird – Learning About a Bird’s Body

By – Amanda Thompson

Subject – Science, Language Arts

Grade Level – 1st-3rd

Objectives:

— To learn the various parts of bird anatomy

— To recite a rhyming poem

— To use creative movement to act out a narrative piece of poetry

— To draw and label a diagram of a bird’s body

Preparation:

— The teacher should copy the “Billie Bird” poem in large writing onto chart paper for the class to read.

— The teacher should have a large drawing of a bird available to write on.

Materials Needed:

— Drawing Paper

— Pencils and Crayons

Procedure:

Part One

1. Have the class sit in a circle in an open area of the classroom. Show the poem “Billie Bird” to the class and read it to them.

2. Ask the class to recall the different parts of Billie Bird’s body that the poem talked about (feathers, beak [also called a bill], feet, tail, head, crown, and wings). As they do this, show them the picture of the bird and begin labeling the parts of the bird’s body.

3. Explain that this poem has movements in it that the class is going to act out. Read through the poem again, slowly, and explain each movement to the students.

4. Read through the poem again, this time having the students act it out.

Part Two

1. When the students return to their seats, distribute pieces of white drawing paper and give students access to crayons and pencils.

2. Instruct the students to draw a bird on the paper, and label the body parts of the bird from memory. Students can work with nearby classmates to remember where the

HERE IS THE POEM:

Billie Bird woke up one morning

When the sun was nice and bright.

When she ruffled up her feathers

She was really quite a sight

She opened up her orange beak

And let out a big “tweet-tweet”

Then she hopped out of her nest

On her tiny bird feet.

She twitched her tail back and forth

And looked up on her head.

Then she smoothed the feathers on her crown

“Now I look great!” She said.

She was ready for a brand new day

And there was very much to do.

So she spread her two big brown wings

And then – away she flew!!

HERE ARE THE MOVEMENTS (FIT IN TO THE CORRECT PLACES IN THE POEM)

Students “ruffle their feathers”

Students make a beak with their hands and make a tweeting noise

Students hop around on their tip toes

Students make a tail with their hands

Students look on their head

Students smooth down their “crowns” on the tops of their heads.

Students spread their wings and go for a little flight!

E-Mail

Amanda

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