Journey North Hummingbirds


Teachers: Hummingbirds for Kids is a simple, student-directed entry point to Journey North. Engaging stories, photos, videos, and slide shows from the natural world build observation skills, inspire scientific thinking, and create fertile ground for discussions and new questions!	Teaching Tools Below: Activities and Learning Standards Science Inquiry Skills Observation Handouts Questions to Inspire Observations

Activity/Lesson	Grade*	Learning Standards/Themes
An Amazing Ruby-throat Journey! (slideshow)	2-6	Adaptations for survival Behavior patterns Science discoveries
How a Backyard Rufous Got Through the Winter (slideshow)	2-6	Basic needs
How Hummers Keep Their Engines Running! (slideshow)	2-6	Meeting basic needs Adaptations for survival
A Tale of Territories, Thieves, and Courtship (slideshow)	2-6	Meeting basic needs Behavior patterns Competition for resources
Building a Hummer Nest: Strong, Soft, and Stretchy (slideshow)	K-6	Meeting basic needs Behavior patterns Reproduction
What Happens in a Hummingbird Nest? (slideshow)	K-6	Adaptations for survival Behavior patterns Reproduction
Inside a Hummingbird's Nest	K-6	Life cycles and reproduction Adaptations for survival (structure and function)
Twenty-two Days in a Hummingbird's Nest (slideshow)	K-6	Life cycles and reproduction Adaptations for survival (structure and function)
One Minute With a Hummingbird	2-6	Behavior patterns (adaptations)
Hummingbird Habitat and the Seasons	2-6	Meeting basic needs Adaptations for survival Habitat
Where is My Hummingbird?	3-6	Map reading and measurement
Hummer Mystery	K-6	Meeting basic needs
Two Species: Which is Which?	K-6	Diversity Adaptations
Adapted to Survive	2-6	Adaptations (structure and function)
Hummingbirds: Close-up and in Slow-motion	K-6	Behavior patterns Adaptations (structure and function)
15 Seconds With a Male Hummingbird	2-6	Behavior patterns Adaptations (structure and function)
* These general grade designations are based on reading levels. You can adapt any activity to lower grades by reading it as a class or by focusing on simple photo observations.

Science Inquiry Skills Addressed
Observing	Comparing and contrasting	Interpreting
Describing	Analyzing	Inferring
Questioning	Finding patterns	Evaluating ideas
Using evidence to make reasonable explanations	Communicating details	Applying understandings

Journey North for Kids Teaching Tools
Observation Handouts Some JN for Kids activities link to simple student observation sheets. You can also select your own from our Gallery of Student Handouts. Print and pass out copies to guide observations of Journey North photos, video clips, and the natural world. Gallery of Student Handouts >>
Questions to Inspire Observations Draw from these to build students' observation and thinking skills. List of Questions >>
Journey North for Kids in the Classroom: Tips from Teachers