Summer Research Reports - Birds

Ezra's big idea for the summer is to have the kids do a research report every week this summer. We go to the library each Monday, pick out books on a topic of their choice. They read, take notes and write a report, and then share it with the family each Saturday night. Are you thinking this is ridiculous to expect of such little kids and they should be enjoying the freedom of summer to just play, play, play? Well, let me tell you, I have learned that this idea is genius! Kids this age love to learn and explore new things. Let me tell you of our first week's experience.

We decided to pick a theme -BIRDS- and let the kids choose a subtopic from there. Annabelle chose to research penguins. Jonah chose eagles. Grace wanted to learn about woodpeckers. Olivia picked a pink bird. And I wanted to learn to identify all the birds I see in our neighborhood. So we went to the library Tuesday. We found the juvenile nonfiction section on birds and the kids each picked out a book on their topic.

Wednesday after our chores were done we did an art project together, with the help of dltk-kids.com.

They had fun playing with their birds the rest of the day. Here they have set them on the bird feeder. At our bird feeder we see house sparrows, the common grackle, house finch, mourning dove, and yellow goldfinch. In our yard we also see cardinals, robins, ruby-crowned kinglets, and an occasional crow. Out and about we have also identified the red-winged blackbird (which I have a story to tell about that), brown-headed cowbird and the tree swallow.
Thursday we went to the nearby raptor center. There are owls, hawks, eagles on display (injured birds that can't fly in very large wood cages). Also there is a bird blind to get a good view of birds that come to various types of bird feeders. So we got to see Jonah's eagles and Grace's woodpeckers. While there Annabelle took notes of all the raptors, birds AND butterflies she saw. This is all on her own initiative by the way. When she got home she wanted to make a book of everything she saw. She worked hard to do a nice job. I helped her find pictures to go on each page, too. So she wants me to laminate and bind it now. She seriously spent all day on this, even when friends came to play she was having more fun working on her project.

Friday and Saturday we took time to read our bird books. I had to read to Jonah and Grace, of course. I took notes for Jonah. Grace's book only had a tiny section on woodpeckers but that was perfect for her level.

Saturday night we all gathered in the living room. Annabelle read her written report to us. For Jonah's report I gave him queues and he basically gave his report from memory. Same with Grace, only her report was probably only five sentences long. I whispered to Olivia what she should say: "This bird is a flamingo. This bird is pink. I love pink."

The kids loved this! They love having a theme and learning new things and doing projects. Next week we might do amphibians, because they found toads in the backyard again today. Or we might do outer space. Or the human body. We haven't decided yet. There are so many fun things to learn!

Here is another one of Ezra's great ideas. He printed math worksheets for everyone to do. He is teaching Grace how to add using an abacus. She liked feeling important.

We even had time to clean the house and play, play, play! What a great start to our summer!