Tropical Birds at Night

Capture amazing rain forest birds with a scratch-out crayon technique.

• 1.

  Find resources to research information about a tropical bird that you "adopt." Gather facts about habitat, size, egg-laying, and necessities for the bird's survival in the rainforest. Prepare a report about the bird, written with Crayola® Crayons that are the colors of the bird's plumage.

• 2.

  To create your Tropical Bird at Night, use a thick layer of crayons to cover white paper with color.

• 3.

  Cover the color with a dense layer of black Crayola crayon.

• 4.

  Scratch lines with a craft stick through the top layer to reveal color beneath. If this is your first time using the scratch-out technique, experiment with it on scrap paper before scratching your tropical bird.

Benefits

• Children use reference materials such as a card catalog, encyclopedia, and online information to research and write reports on tropical birds.
• Students identify characteristics necessary for tropical birds' survival in the rain forest climate, such as coloration, nesting habits, and food availability.
• Children use their observations and knowledge to create pictures of their tropical birds at night using a scratch-out technique.

Adaptations

• Children from primary and upper grades work as partners to read and record information about a tropical bird they "adopt" together.
• Display art work and reports in a virtual tropical bird sanctuary for families and students to visit.
• Use recycled boxes and cardboard to create three-dimensional representations of water, plants, trees, sun, and other necessities for the birds' survival in the tropical rain forest. Play a tape of rain forest sounds to enhance the sanctuary experience.