This comprehensive pack combines our popular Nature Journal with hands-on activities, creative projects, and outdoor investigations that help Key Stage 1 learners discover the fascinating characteristics of birds. Perfect for Year 1 children, this resource explores bird structure, diet, adaptations, and behaviour through observation, art, and scientific enquiry.
Included Resources +
This pack includes eight activity sheets with accompanying lesson plans and a Nature Journal for recording bird observations, sketches, and discoveries.
• Nature Journal — interactive notebook for recording bird observations, sketches, and discoveries
• Birds Poster — visual reference showing different types of birds and their features
• Label The Bird — learn about bird body parts including wings, beaks, and feathers
• Bird Diets — discover what different birds eat and how their beaks are adapted
• Make Bird Food — hands-on activity to create bird feeders and attract local birds
• Bird Watching — outdoor observation activity to spot and identify birds in your area
• Painting With Feathers — creative art activity exploring feather textures and patterns
• Bird Beak Investigation — scientific investigation exploring how different beak shapes suit different foods
Key Details +
• Year Group: Year 1 (ages 5–6)
• Key Stage: KS1
• Subject: Science
• Resource Type: Activity Sheets + Lesson Plans + Nature Journal
• Format: Instant PDF Download
• Number of Activities: 8
Curriculum Alignment +
Aligned to the Year 1 Science National Curriculum. Covers animals including humans — identifying and naming a variety of common animals including birds, describing and comparing the structure of a variety of common animals, and identifying and classifying animals by what they eat (carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores). Develops understanding of how birds are adapted to their environment, including beak shape and function. Cross-curricular links to Art & Design (Painting With Feathers — texture and pattern), DT (Make Bird Food — designing and making), and outdoor learning (Bird Watching).
Teaching Tips +
Bird Beak Investigation is the standout science activity — use tweezers, pegs, spoons, and forks to simulate different beak shapes picking up seeds, worms (string), and fish (paper clips) from different containers. Make Bird Food works brilliantly as a DT session using lard, seeds, and a pine cone or yoghurt pot — hang feeders outside and use them for the Bird Watching activity over the following weeks. Bird Watching is ideal as a quiet, focused outdoor session with clipboards and the Nature Journal — the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is a great real-world link. Painting With Feathers produces beautiful results with large feathers and thick paint — collect feathers on a nature walk beforehand.
