Family and Homeschool Activities: Making Observations

These family and homeschool activities are designed to complement the Making Observations topic on BrainPOP Jr.

For the Birds

Go bird-watching with your child. You may wish to do it in your backyard or at a local park. You can also find simple and inexpensive ways on the Internet to make a bird feeder to help attract birds to the area. Have your child observe different birds, comparing their size, color, and behaviors. He or she may want to count each type of bird or record different birds’ chirps and songs. If possible, repeat the activity during different times of the year. Which birds appear the most? What time of day do the birds appear most often? Help your child make connections and find patterns.

Plant Race

Help your child grow two plants from seeds. He or she should put one plant in a sunny spot and put another in a shady spot. Have your child predict which will grow faster and why. Remember always to give each plant the same amount of water . Then help your child observe each plant over an extended period of time. He or she can use a ruler to measure the height, count the number of leaves that grow, and take photographs or draw pictures. Which plant “wins” the race? Why?