Budding Engineers: Be a Bird, Build a Nest!

ABCs of Engineering: Be a Bird, Build a Nest! 

Suitable for 4 to 6 year olds 

Hey there, little adventurers! Have you ever wondered how a bird builds its cozy nest using twigs and leaves? Well, it's time to put on our special engineering caps and dive into the exciting world of bird home design! Get ready to discover the amazing secrets behind creating the perfect nest for our feathered friends! 
 

Let’s Talk About the Engineering Design Process! 

It's a series of steps that engineers follow to find solutions to problems. 

Footnote: Kids, P. B. E. F. (2020, March 27). Importance of the engineering design process. Engineering For Kids. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.engineeringforkids.com/about/news/2020/march/importance-of-the-engineering-design-process/  
 
Engineers and designers use this framework to come up with innovative solutions to our everyday problems. Let's observe our feathered friends in nature – they're tiny engineers and architects too, solving problems in their own special ways.  

LET’S TRY! 

Ever wonder what makes a bird a bird? Let's find out together! What are the special body parts that every bird has? With this fun activity sheet our child can match the different parts of a bird with their names! (Refer to the image below for the answers) 

Great job finishing the activity, little adventurers! Now, let's dive deeper into the amazing world of birds! Here is a question for you to think about: 

• How do you think birds use their special body parts when building their nests? 

Here are some ideas: 

Beak: Birds use their beaks for picking up twigs, breaking objects into smaller pieces, and piercing holes into leaves. 

Wings: Birds fly to higher places to build their nests, keeping them safe and hidden from predators. 

Claws: Birds' claws are like their hands! They use them to put materials into place and weave string-like objects around. 

Wow! Aren’t birds such talented builders? Keep exploring and learning about our feathered friends! 

TIP FOR PARENTS: 

Use what your child already knows to help them learn new things! It makes learning super fun and less daunting. Plus, it teaches them to think like little detectives and explore what they already know even more! 

LET’S WATCH! 

Did you know that birds are like little builders, each with their own unique style? They collect all sorts of cool stuff to make their cozy nests! Twigs, feathers, moss, grass, leaves, tree branches, and even stones! 

But guess what? The materials they use and the homes they build depend a lot on where they live. That means that each bird's home is special, just like yours!  

Let's dive in and discover the amazing world of creative problem-solving together! Watch these exciting videos with your child to learn all about how clever designers adapt their creations to the materials they have! It's like a magical journey where anything is possible!

LET’S APPLY! 

It's time to approach our nest-building task with the Engineering Design Process! Watch the videos below to better understand the steps.  

The Engineering Process: Crash Course Kids #12.2 (5:16) 

So, how do we go about being engineers? In this episode of Crash Course Kids, Sabrina talks to us about the Engineering Process and explains why we should follow a specific order, as well as the many questions we should ask along the way. 

Engineering Design Kindergarten Science (2:53)

This video explains the Engineering Design Process in a fun and engaging way, helping young students understand this complex concept. For more free educational resources, visit https://lincolnlearningsolutions.org/. 

Here are some ways in which you can solve everyday problems like superheroes using the Engineering Design process! Parents can also pick up some tips on how to incorporate this process at home.

LET’S GET CRAFTY! 

Now that we know the Engineering Design Process, let's create our bird nest through this fun and interactive activity. Have your family members or friends join in the fun!  

 

LET’S READ!

Goldilocks and the Three Engineers 

By: Sue Fliess & Petros Bouloubasis 

Publisher: Chicago, Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company, 2021 

Section: Early Literacy Picture Books 

Call No.: English FLI 

 
The Invention Hunters: Discover How Machines Work 

By: Korwin Briggs 

Publisher: New York; Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2019 

Section: Early Literacy Picture Books / Non-Fiction 
 
Call No.: English 621.8 BRI 
 

 
Bird Builds a Nest 

By: Martin Jenkins & Richard Jones 

Publisher: London: Walker Books, 2019 

Section: Early Literacy Picture Books / Non-Fiction 

Call No.: English 530 JEN 

Jabari Tries 

By: Gaia Cornwall 

Publisher: London: Walker Books, 2021 

Section: Early Literacy Picture Books 

Call No.: English COR 
 
The copyright to all book covers belongs to the relevant publishers or illustrators. 
 
For more wonderful books in our collection, look them up on our NLB Catalogue!