American Robin

Journey North for Kids
Observe, Describe, Wonder

1. Observe, Describe, Wonder
The two-page format encourages inquiry-based exploration. On the first page, students look closely at a photo, describe details, and ask questions. On the second page, they read to discover what the photo reveals about robins.

Select and show a photo featured in JN for Kids. Model how to describe details and ask questions. For example, look at images that capture a robin building a nest and think aloud: I noticed the robin's beak filled with mud. I wonder how many beakfuls of mud it takes to build the nest. How does the robin construct and shape the nest? Why are the breast feathers covered with mud? Encourage students to record their ideas on the Observe and Wonder chart.

2. Provide Clues that Focus on Details
After students look at a photo, describe details, and ask questions, stretch their thinking with one more challenge before letting them click the 'discover' link. Read aloud the photo caption and provide clue words to assess their background knowledge and encourage them to make predictions and ask additional questions.

To prepare for this challenge, choose 4-6 words from the 'discover page' before your photo study session with students. Here's an example:

Sample Photo: robin with beak full of mud
Photo Caption: Building With Mud
Key Words: weave, cement, shape, feathers, nest, adhere

3. Ask Questions that Lead to Further Exploration
Select from the Guiding Questions to encourage students to explore and think about details in the photo. Have them brainstorm questions inspired by the image you are studying. Use the '5 Ws and H' chart to stretch their question-formulating skills. Have them work with a partner to fill the page with a variety of questions:
Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

4. Describe, Wonder, Hypothesize
As students examine a photo, challenge them to think and act like scientists, describing details, writing wonder questions, and posing hypotheses.

5. Build Effective Communication Skills
Help students collect words and phrases they’ll need to communicate their scientific thinking. Use the Writer’s Quest for Details chart to help students find the words that describe details they observe in photos. Invite them to use the collected words and phrases to write possible captions for the photos.

6. Strengthen Observation and Thinking Skills
Use the ABC Chart in a variety of ways to build and strengthen students' skills:

• Assess what students know by asking them to fill the boxes with words related to robins: general or focused (nesting, migration, adaptations)
• Use for note-taking; students record discoveries they learn by reading information provided on the photo pages featured in JN for Kids.
• Use as a pre-writing activity; students fill boxes with action verbs to describe what robins do: arriving, building, carrying, dining, eating, foraging, gathering, hunting, and more. Use the words to write poems or nonfiction.
• Build a classroom robin glossary by recording key words in each box. Students can fill out index cards with the words and definitions.
• Challenge students to write snapshot sentences that describe the photo using words collected on the chart. Encourage them to include details that would help readers identify the image the sentences depict.