Learning Network: 8 Ways to Bring Birds and Birding Into Your Classroom

Look closely. Listen carefully. Ask questions. Gather data.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story September 8, 2023 Dear Reader, The New York Times is running a citizen science birding project with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The goals are to gather observations about the birds in your area, fill in data gaps and give researchers a clearer picture of biodiversity. Why not have your students participate? After all, bird-watching is a free activity that can help teenagers sharpen their observation skills, improve their mental and physical health and get more in touch with nature. And birding can be done by anyone virtually anywhere. David Sibley, an artist and a birder, writes that birds are all around us all the time, even in a city — all we have to do is "watch and wonder." In a new resource, we suggest eight ways that bringing birds and birding into your classroom — regardless of what you teach, or at what level — will help your students strengthen important skills they can use for a lifetime. And if your students are captivated by what they are learning, we invite them to post to our comments by responding to these simple questions: As you watch birds, what are you noticing? What are you wondering? Sincerely, The Learning Network P.S. This week we started publishing our daily writing prompts for the 2023-24 school year. TEACHING RESOURCES Mike McQuade TEACHING RESOURCE 8 Ways to Bring Birds and Birding Into Your Classroom Look closely. Listen carefully. Ask questions. Gather data. Bird-watching helps students build essential academic skills and connect with the natural world. By Michael Gonchar and Katherine Schulten Jahmese Jones Dunbar CONTESTS What High School Is Like in 2023: A Multimedia Challenge for Teachers and Teens What can you show or tell us to help explain what it's like to be an educator or student in secondary school right now? Submit in words, images, audio or video, from Aug. 16-Oct. 4. By The Learning Network From left to right, Shashank Salgam, Allyson Kim and Gigi Greene CONTESTS Our 2023-24 Student Contest Calendar Here are 10 challenges to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary — including one open to both teachers and teenagers. By The Learning Network Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to LNfeedback@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Learning Network from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Learning Network, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018