Even an Ostrich Needs a Nest: Where Birds Begin
By: Irene Kelly
Published by: Holiday House
NonFiction
This short, non-fiction picture book gives the reader insight into the many different kinds of birds and their nests from around the world. Some birds build small, intricate nests out of grasses and spider webs, while other birds, like the Bald Eagle build huge nests that weigh as much as a car. Of course, there are some birds, like the Emperor Penguin who balance it on their feet and cover it with their soft belly to keep it warm. The 32 page beautifully illustrates picture book takes the reader through the many different kinds of birds and their nests, and even has a map of all of the birds from around the world!
Reading Level:
Age Level: 5 and up
Suggested Delivery:
Read Aloud
Electronic Resources:
This page has a list of facts about birds for kids. Also, by following other links from this page, students can learn about many other different types of animals as well.
This National Geographic link has many different videos about different kinds of birds around the world. There are videos about different kinds of birds including osprey, eagles, vultures and lovebirds. There is even a video entitled "Egg-Cellent Idea" that would go along very well with this informational story.
Key Vocabulary:
predator, vegetation, Potoo, Blue-Footed Booby, Murre, Atlantic Puffin, Wandering Albatross
Comprehension Strategies:
Before Reading:
Before reading the text aloud, hold up the cover of the book to the class. Ask students what comes to mind when they see the cover and what they think the book will be about. Have students brainstorm their ideas, and write them on the board. After students have brainstormed the different birds or topics they think the book will include, have students help you organize their ideas into categories.
During Reading:
As a class students and the teacher will fill out a discussion web. This type of organizer helps students categorize which facts are important and which are unimportant. Using a large piece of chart paper or the board, make two columns labeled important vs. unimportant. As you read and students hear facts in the story, have them raise their hand when they think something could go in either column.
After Reading:
After reading the story have the class work together to put the facts from the before reading strategy and the during reading strategy. Students can work in pairs to fill in a graphic organizer with all of the appropriate facts. Students need to be sure that the incorrect facts from the before reading strategy are not included in their final product.
Writing Assignment:
Choose a type of bird from the non-fiction text. The student would be responsible for learning 5 new facts about this type of bird, other than its nesting type. The student will write these facts in paragraph form and share with the class.
During Reading:
As a class students and the teacher will fill out a discussion web. This type of organizer helps students categorize which facts are important and which are unimportant. Using a large piece of chart paper or the board, make two columns labeled important vs. unimportant. As you read and students hear facts in the story, have them raise their hand when they think something could go in either column.
After Reading:
After reading the story have the class work together to put the facts from the before reading strategy and the during reading strategy. Students can work in pairs to fill in a graphic organizer with all of the appropriate facts. Students need to be sure that the incorrect facts from the before reading strategy are not included in their final product.
Writing Assignment:
Choose a type of bird from the non-fiction text. The student would be responsible for learning 5 new facts about this type of bird, other than its nesting type. The student will write these facts in paragraph form and share with the class.
Kelly, Irene. Even an ostrich needs a nest: where birds begin. New York: Holiday House, 2009. Print.
Katie,
ReplyDeleteVery cute blog! It has such a welcoming feel to it :). I really like the electronic/further resources you provide for your texts. I visited some of them and they pose to be very helpful for either acquiring prior knowledge pertaining to the novel or supporting comprehension. Specifically, I really like the national geographic resource with the educational videos on birds. Ideally, you would love for students to see the real thing at all times (i.e. real ostrich in this case and other birds), however obviously that is impossible due to restrictions on resources, time, and money. Therefore, I believe that interactive videos such as these ones are the next best thing. It also provides students with the opportunity to engage with technology, which is very significant in the classroom/real world today. Well done Katie!
-Daniela