Birds are everywhere! Learn about some of our neighborhood birds and the techniques used to study them from a migratory bird scientist.

This virtual school program is part of Conservation Classroom, a collection of monthly lessons for K-5 students. This program reaches 2-6 students a little better, but we've had all ages enjoy it. Each lesson has four elements: wonder (video), engage (live virtual program), act (activities), and connect (video). Follow along with all four parts or pick and choose the videos and activities you want to explore. 

Grades:

2-8

Standards:

Supports NGSS 2-PS1-2, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS2-A

Topics:

birds, migration, observation, tracking, bird banding

Crosscutting Concepts:

Patterns, Cause and Effect, Interdependence of science, engineering, and technology

Cost:

Free

Wonder

I wonder... how do scientists study birds? Come along to discover how scientists study birds with banding and tracking tools. 

 

Click the "Bird Banding" button below to watch this I Wonder video.

 

I wonder... what is migration? Explore with us as we follow two migratory birds, and find out why they embark on these journeys.

 

Click the "Bird Migration" button below to watch this I Wonder video.

 

Preguntarse

Me pregunto... ¿Qué es la migración? Explore con nosotros mientras seguimos a dos aves migratorias y descubra por qué se embarcan en estos viajes.

 

Haga clic en el botón "Migración de aves" a continuación para ver este video de I Wonder.

Engage

May 21, 2025 at 12pm Eastern

 

In this free, live virtual program, students will learn about neighborhood birds and techniques used to study them, such as bird banding, from a migratory bird ecologist.

 

Program is hosted in Zoom webinar. Please note: audio and video are disabled for participants, but students can still engage via polls, chat, Q&A and emojis. The program recording will be made available approximately 48 hours after the live program. Need to watch sooner? Check out last year's recording

 

Language & Access: English, Spanish (simulcast), American Sign Language interpretation, and live English captions. 

 

Comprometer

21 de mayo de 2025 a las 12 p.m. hora del este

 

En este programa virtual gratuito en vivo, los estudiantes aprenderán sobre las aves del vecindario y las técnicas utilizadas para estudiarlas, como el anillamiento de aves, de la mano de un ecólogo de aves migratorias.

 

El programa está alojado en el seminario web de Zoom. Tenga en cuenta: el audio y el video están deshabilitados para los participantes, pero los estudiantes aún pueden participar a través de encuestas, chat, preguntas y respuestas y emojis. La grabación del programa estará disponible aproximadamente 48 horas después del programa en vivo. ¿Necesitas verlo antes? Echa un vistazo a la grabación del año pasado.

 

Idioma y acceso: inglés, español (transmisión simultánea), interpretación en lenguaje de señas americano y subtítulos en vivo en inglés.

Act

During the live program, take scientific notes as we measure and weigh birds. After the program, take your bird journal outside and make observations. You can also watch Learn to Draw a Bird and draw your own bird. Share your drawings with us at nzp-education@si.edu.

Hojas de actividades disponibles en español: Registro de aves. Comparta sus dibujos con nosotros en nzp-education@si.edu.

Connect

Meet Nathan, a research ecologist and migratory bird scientist! As part of his "unZOOsual" career, Nathan study birds as they travel between their summer and winter homes to learn how to save them.

 

Conectar

¡Conoce a Nathan, un ecólogo investigador y científico de aves migratorias! Como parte de su carrera "unZOOsual", Nathan estudia a las aves mientras viajan entre sus hogares de verano e invierno para aprender cómo salvarlas.

For Educators

Educator's Materials

Conservation Classroom: Exploring Neighborhood Birds i­­s best suited for grades 2-6. The full lesson consists of two videos, a live program, and two activities. Refer to the Smithsonian Learning Lab collection to help teach this lesson.


Letter to Guardians

After participating in the live program, print or send the following letter to guardians, explaining what their student learned in this lesson and how they can continue to engage from home.

Carta para el tutor

Después de participar en el programa en vivo, imprima o envíe la siguiente carta a los tutores, explicando lo que su estudiante aprendió en esta lección y cómo pueden continuar participando desde casa.

Explore More Programs

May 7, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Discovering Amphibians

Join us as we celebrate Amphibian Week. Learn about amphibians, get an up-close look of some of them and chat with an amphibian expert.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1

Topics:

amphibians, adaptations, habitats, life cycles

Cost:

Free

May 15, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Let's Celebrate!

Join the National Zoo as we celebrate Head Start's 60th birthday with the help of Giant pandas and meerkats! Discover how not only the zoo celebrates birthdays but also how people across the world celebrate special moments!

Content Unit:

Celebrations

Smithsonian Partners:
Standards:

Supports Head Start ELOF Goals