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Feather Observation

Lesson Plan:

​Activity:

Feather Observation

Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed

Age Group:

School-Age

* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with preschoolers.

Objectives:  

Children will

• describe what a feather looks like under magnification.

Washington Common Core Standard

EALR 4

• EALR 4: Life Science
  
• Big Idea:  Structures and Functions of Living Organisms (LS1)
  
• Core Content:  Plant and Animal Parts
  
• K-1 LS1C The parts of a plant or animal appear different under a magnifier compared with the unaided eye.

Feather Observation

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Materials: 

• feathers of different shapes sizes, and colors
• magnifying glasses
• clip boards
• pencils
• crayons/markers
• water

Procedure: 

• Set up magnification station for children.
  
• Provide them with all different types of feathers, magnifying glasses, paper to record their observations on, pencils to write with, and crayons/markers for drawing what they see.
• Ask children why they think birds have feathers. What do they help them do? Are all feathers the same?
• After discussion, have children begin their observation. While they are working, encourage them to use creative words while writing.
• If time allows you can add a few drops of water to the feathers and ask children to observe what is happening. Prompt them to explain why the water rolls off the feathers. Ask them how they think this helps the bird. 

Assessment: 

• Review children observation forms.

* If desired, you can create a book using their observation forms to have in the classroom. Using the children's work to make a book promotes self-confidence and helps students feel a sense of ownership. 

Online Early Childhood Education

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Learning through Sensory Play

Learning through Sensory Play

Children learn best and retain the most information when they engage their senses. Cognitive skills sharpened by sensory play are problem solving and decision making; simply present a child with a problem and various materials with which to find a solution, and you can almost see the connections their brains are making.   Children can build math skills such as comparing size (big versus small), counting and one-to-one correspondence (matching numbers to objects), timing (does water or oil move faster?), matching (same sizes and shapes), and sorting and classifying (buttons, beans or rice), and science skills such as cause and effect (what happens when I add water to sand?), gravity (water slides down a funnel, not up) and states of matter (ice melts).  

Sensory play encourages children to use descriptive and expressive language, and to find meaning behind essentially meaningless words or gibberish.  Certain sensory play options, like sensory tables, allow children to be in complete control of their actions and experiences, which boosts their confidence in decision making and inspires their eagerness to learn and experiment.  Sensory play benefit the development of fine motor skills by encouraging manipulation of materials, such as mixing, measuring, pouring and scooping, while other examples, such as exploring surfaces, lifting, throwing, rolling and water play, help develop gross motor skills.