Bird Land

Grade Level:
Elementary

Subject Areas:
Reading, Visual Arts

Setting:
Classroom

Skills:
Observation

Prior Preparation: Have each
student bring from home one
toilet paper tube. Make copies
of the Bird Land bird facts
sheet and review in class. Have
students go to a computer to
go online at
sciencebob.com/questions/rai
nforestbirds/htm. Each
student shoudl spend some
time researching the site and
finding out information about
rainforest birds.

Vocabulary:
none

South Dakota Education
Standards for 4th grade:
Reading
4.R.1.1; 4.R.1.2; 4.R.5.1; 4.R.5.2
Visual Arts
Standard 1; Standard 3

Objective: Students will design and construct a rainforest parrot.

Materials: 1 toilet paper tube, scissors, markers, crayons, paints, or colored pencils, glue,
construction paper, assorted, brightly colored feathers (optional)

Background: The canopy layer of the rainforest is home to many brightly colored birds.
Macaws, toucans, hawks, eagles, parrots and other birds have brilliantly colored feathers that
do anything but camouflage them among the green of the forest. For example, the scarlet
macaw is one of the most spectacular parrots of South America. It not only is feathered in
bright scarlet, as its name describes, but also boasts brilliant blue and yellow feathers on its
wings. Scarlet macaws don't need to be camouflaged because they have very few predators.

Birds of the rainforest tend to have short, broad wings. This helps them maneuver the thick
vegetation in the forest. Some birds have also adapted to climbing. Toucans and parrots are
just a few of the species of the birds that have feet with toes that can grasp the trunks and
branches of trees.

Procedure:
Make copies of the parrot template - one for each student.

Give each student a template. Have student color the template in whatever colors he/she
would like or he/she can replicate one of the birds found on the web site.

Glue the large rectangular piece around the toilet paper tube.

Glue tail onto the back of the toilet paper tube.

Glue head onto the front of the toilet paper tube.

Glue the wings onto the side of the toilet paper tube or make it look like the parrot is flying
by gluing the wings onto the back of the tube.

Fold the feet and glue the tabs to the inside of the tube.

Extensions:
Hold a community car wash or other fundraiser to raise funds to purchase rainforest land.
Display posters about the rainforest at your fundraiser. Make one that shows all the different
species of parrots and educate people about the bird trade.

During the third week of October, celebrate World Rainforest Week. Visit author Nancy
Castaldo's website and find out what she's been up to. The address is:
www.nancycastaldo.com

This activity was adapted from, "Rainforests: An Activity Guide for Ages 6-9" by Nancy F. Castaldo