2
The life of a bird
Discover P2 Term 1: Axis 1, Chapter 2
GoalPut the stages of a bird’s life in order and compare it with a person’s life.
New words
nest · a home that a bird makes for its eggshatch · to break out of the eggchick · a baby birdfeathers · the light covering on a bird’s body
Explanation
A bird begins life as an egg. The mother bird lays her eggs in a nest. She stays on top of them so they do not get cold. After some days a chick hatches. It is small and cannot fly. It cries when it is hungry, and its mother brings food such as small bugs or seeds. The chick grows feathers and its wings get strong. Then the young bird learns to fly. When it is an adult, it lays eggs, and the life cycle starts again.
Worked examples
A pigeon makes a nest on Seif’s balcony and sits on two eggs. She keeps them warm.
Two chicks hatch. They cry for food, and the mother brings a bug for each one.
Habiba compares people and birds. Both grow and need care. A baby is born, but a chick hatches from an egg.
Class activity
Watch birds with a grown-up from a window or a balcony for five minutes. Do not touch a nest or eggs, because the parents may leave. Draw one bird. Say what it did. Then draw the four stages of a bird’s life on four cards and put them in order. Wash your hands afterwards.
Practice
1
Look at the bird life cycle. What is the missing picture?
A chick (a young bird that is growing feathers).
2
Where does a mother bird lay her eggs?
In a nest.
3
Which stage comes first in a bird’s life? Say the letter.
C, the egg.
4
Tell one thing that is the same and one thing that is different for a baby and a chick.
Same: both need care and grow. Different: a baby is born; a chick hatches from an egg.