Explore the natural beauty of birds through living books, art, nature studies, birdwatching, and more with this Charlotte Mason homeschool curriculum!
Discover the Beauty of Birds with Our Charlotte Mason Curriculum
Birds are among nature’s most fascinating creatures, and studying them can spark awe, wonder, and a deeper connection with the natural world. If you’re a Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschooler eager to explore the beauty and science of birds with your children, our bird-themed curriculum is perfect for your family!
This curriculum combines birdwatching, nature study, literature, and art to create a rich, multifaceted learning experience. Together, you’ll discover the everyday wonders of birds by observing them in local parks or right outside your window. Enrich your studies with bird-themed poems, living books, and classic artwork, while hands-on activities bring the learning to life. Enjoy an art lesson that teaches how to paint realistic-looking birds, and try out DIY instructions to craft a bird feeder, inviting feathered friends to visit your outdoor space.
Seamlessly designed for Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschools, this curriculum encourages delight-directed learning, sharpens observational skills, and nurtures a deep respect for God’s creation.
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just beginning your journey, this curriculum will help your family develop a lasting appreciation for the marvelous world of birds. Ready to take flight? Find out more below!
A Beautiful Bird-Themed Tea Time Spread
One of the many activities we include in this curriculum is an easy, kid-friendly recipe section! Below, you will find dazzling desserts to create and enjoy while enjoying our tea-time reading selections, or simply basking in the beauty of backyard birdwatching! No matter what you choose, these bird-inspired treats are sure to be a hit!
- Hummingbird Cake
- Granola Nests
- Birdseed Cookies
- Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches
Here is a first look at these fun, easy-to-create recipes for kids! Create some, or all, together with your family for a memorable, educational tea-time experience!
Add a Bird-Inspired Poem to Your Tea Time:
We have included several bird-themed poetry selections that capture the beauty of our feathered friends, including selections from Emily Dickinson, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and more, as well as copywork selections for ages ranging from primary through high school! Here is a sample of one of our favorite pieces from this curriculum:
A Bird, Came Down the Walk
By Emily Dickinson
A Bird, came down the Walk –
He did not know I saw –
He bit an Angle Worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw,
And then, he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass –
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass –
He glanced with rapid eyes,
That hurried all abroad –
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought,
He stirred his Velvet Head. –
Like one in danger, Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers,
And rowed him softer Home –
Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Too silver for a seam,
Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon,
Leap, plashless as they swim.
Delight in Nature’s Beautiful Birds with the 190+ page “Birds Morning Time Session”!
Get ready for a birdwatching adventure with our beautifully crafted “Birds Morning Time Session!” This 190+ page guide has everything you need to immerse your family in the beauties and wonders of the amazing world of birds through creative, hands-on learning activities.
Inside, you’ll find:
- 4-week Calendar with each subject scheduled on it
- Prayer and scripture memorization
- Copywork selections from 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:25-33, Ode to a Nightingale,by John Keats, and To a Skylark, by Percy Bysshe Shelley in primary, elementary, cursive, and a notebook sheet for high school students (and moms)
- Memory Work: Prayer, scripture memory, and poetry memorization
- Living Books recommended reading list
- Artist & Picture Study: John James Audubon with four printable art pieces
- Composer Study: Olivier Messiaen with four classical bird-themed pieces (+ listening links)
- Bird Poetry Study: Four famous bird poems: Ode to a Nightingale,by John Keats, and To a Skylark, by Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Eagle by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and A Bird, Came Down the Walk, by Emily Dickinson
- Hymn Study: His Eye Is On the Sparrow, with sheet music and listening links
- Folk Song Study: The Old Carrion Crow with sheet music and listening links
- 4 Bird-Themed Teatime Recipes: Hummingbird Cake, Birdseed Cookies, Granola Nests and Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches
- 5 Bird-Themed Teatime Reading: The Bluebird, by Marie-Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, Baroness d’Aulnoy, The Golden Bird, by the Brothers Grimm, The Lark and Her Young, by Aesop, and The Raven,by Edgar Allan Poe
- Geography: Seabird, by Holling C. Holling
- Handicraft: Birdseed Cakes
- Art Lesson: Wood Thrush in acrylics
- Nature study: Birds
- Shakespeare: The Ornithology of Shakespeare, by James Edmund Harting
- The Burgess Bird Book for Children, by Thornton Burgess
- John James Audubon’s first three volumes of Ornithological Biography
- And more!
Ready to discover nature’s beautiful creatures? Get your guide today and let the fun begin!
Have a Backyard Birdwatching Paint Party!
In this session, we have included an art lesson depicting how to paint one of our favorite feathered friends, the Wood Thrush! Set up your paint supplies outside or near a window and birdwatch while you paint for an even more immersive experience!
Painting of a Wood Thrush, by Alisha Gratehouse
Enjoying your paint party too much to stop? Grab these lessons from the Masterpiece Society to keep the fun going!
Living Books to Explore Beautiful Birds In Your Homeschool
Want to explore more on the subject of birds in your homeschool? Check these out from your local library or grab them online to make them a permanent resource for your homeschooling library!
Picture Books
Big Book of Birds (The Big Book Series)
Bird WatchCounting Birds: The Idea That Helped Save Our Feathered Friends (Young Naturalist)The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12)Birds and Their FeathersThe EggFeathers: Not Just for FlyingA Nest Is Noisy (Family Treasure Nature Encylopedias)An Egg Is Quiet: (Picture Book, Kids Book about Eggs) (Family Treasure Nature Encylopedias)All Kinds of Nests!: Birds (Science Storybooks)Mama Built a Little NestHenry the Impatient Heron (Arbordale Collection)Flute’s Journey: The Life of a Wood ThrushBackyard Birds of SummerBackyard Birds of WinterMolly the Owl: The True Story of a Common Barn Owl That Ends Up Being Not So Common After AllOwl MoonMake Way for DucklingsLooking for Loons
Elementary, & Middle Grades
SeabirdThe Burgess Bird Book for ChildrenThe Trumpet of the Swan 50th AnniversaryThe Bird’s Nest (Rare Collector’s Series)Blue BirdsThe Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12)Adopted By An Owl: The True Story of Jackson the Owl (The Hazel Ridge Farm Stories)A Quail in the FamilyCharlie’s RavenClem: The Story of a RavenThere’s an Owl in the ShowerOwls in the Family
Reference Books
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region, Revised EditionBirds (National Audubon Society First Field Guides)American Museum of Natural History Birds of North AmericaNational Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Birds of North AmericaSmithsonian Birds of North AmericaBird Songs: 250 North American Birds in SongNational Wildlife Federation(R): Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife, Expanded Second Edition (Creative Homeowner) 17 Projects & Step-by-Step Instructions to Give Back to NatureBackyard Birding: Birdwatching Books for KidsHow to Feed Backyard Birds: A Step-by-Step Guide for KidsAudubon Songbirds and Other Backyard Birds Picture-A-Day Wall Calendar 2023Birds, Nests, and Eggs (Take-Along Guide)The Birds of AmericaThe Laws Sketchbook for Nature JournalingGulls . . . Gulls . . . Gulls . . .MapsThe Audubon Birds Coloring BookAudubon and his Journals, Volume 1 (of 2)Audubon’s Birds of America Coloring BookJohn Audubon: Young Naturalist (12) (Young Patriots series)More Birding by Ear: A Guide to Bird-Song Identification : Eastern/Central (Peterson Field Guide Series)Handbook of Nature StudyLatin for Bird Lovers: Over 3,000 Bird Names Explored and Explained
Happy birdwatching!
Birds have a way of capturing our hearts and sparking curiosity, and our Bird-Themed Charlotte Mason Curriculum invites you to explore their world together as a family. From quiet moments of birdwatching to creative art projects, these experiences will inspire wonder and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the natural world around us.
Step outside, bring your nature journals, and let’s make this season one of discovery and connection in your homeschool. Embrace the beauty, the learning, and the joy that studying these winged wonders brings! And remember:
“It may be that the souls of all children are waiting for the call of knowledge to awaken them to delightful living.”
-Charlotte Mason
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