Teacher Tips for Baby Robins: Welcome to the World! Booklet Version and Print-and-Fold Instructions BEFORE READING Make Predictions: Would you rather be a robin dad or a robin mom? Why?   DURING READING Critical Thinking. Discuss: • Why does mother robin delay sitting on the eggs until all are laid? (She wants them to develop and hatch at the same time. It is the most efficient way.) •Why do you think baby robins grow so fast? They are the size of their parents in just two weeks! (The summers are short breeding seasons, and the parents have 2 to 4 nests of babies to raise. Babies need to move out to make way for more.) Make Connections: • Everyone in the robin family has their own jobs to do. What are your jobs at home? Which of the duties of either parent are you eager to do someday? Which DON'T you want to do? Why? • An instinct is an inborn pattern of behavior. It is something an animal can do without having to learn. You learned some things baby robins do by instinct. What are some examples of human instincts? What things must be taught to humans? Here's a checklist of behaviors to ask a parent about. You will discover more about instinctive and learned behaviors.   AFTER READING: EXTEND LEARNING In-depth Lessons: • Inside a Robin's Nest (Journey North for Kids) • Two Robins Nesting (Journey North for Kids) • Robin Feeding Frenzy (Journey North for Kids) • Robin's Nest Movie (Journey North for Kids) • Growing Up (Journey North for Kids) • Babies in the Bush (Journey North for Kids) • Spring Phenology of Robins Activity: Chore Chart for Raising Robins. Fill out the chore chart as you learn more about robin families during this Journey North season. Journal: Now think back to your earlier prediction. Would you rather be a male or female robin? Why?