Now that Aiden is getting older, I have been observing him become interested in specific topics over the past couple of months. Some of his current interests include birds, trucks, cars, and dogs. Birds are a topic that both of the boys (15 months and 3 years) have been loving. They could spend so much time bird-watching out the window. Late infancy and early toddlerhood are such an exciting time for discovery and broadening exposures. When I observe either of my boys showing interest in a new topic, I usually dive right into this period of the “absorbent mind” and create a Montessori-inspired discovery unit for them. These discovery units are some of their (and my) favorite things to have out on their shelves!
The discoveries I put together for them include a wide variety of activities and materials: Montessori friendly (based in reality) books, shelf materials, Montessori language and matching cards, DIY activities, sensory bins, and practical life activities. This bird discovery unit includes tons of Montessori-inspired resources in all of those areas!
I’ve highlighted a few of the activities I included below, but I also created a more detailed guide. This free PDF guide shares specifics on the different resources and activities that can be included in a Montessori-inspired birds discovery. Click on the download button below to immediately download this free guide!
Montessori Inspired Birds Discovery Guide: Free Download
Bird Books for Babies & Young Toddlers
These bird books have been perfect for some beginning exploration of birds! They are all Montessori-friendly (based in reality) and have eye-catching photographs and/or illustrations. Download the free discovery unit guide for the full list! Also, if you’re looking for seasonal Montessori-friendly books you can check out these winter, spring, and summer book suggestions.
Bird Figures and Matching Cards
We also included two different Montessori-inspired bird matching activities in our discovery. One set of bird figures are is from Safari Ltd.’s Backyard Birds TOOB. For the other, I pulled together the other Schleich birds that we had- the eagle, macaw, penguin, peacock, ostrich, toucan, and snowy owl. Asher liked learning about some other types of birds around the world as well!
These figures are great for Montessori-inspired activities and discoveries because they are so realistic and detailed. They’re also great for vocabulary exposure, and as babes get older they can be used for small world setups and sensory bins! At 15 months, Aiden liked to pick up the bird figures, place them in and out of little boxes and baskets from his regular work shelf, and hold them saying “tweet, tweet!” Asher likes to match them with the cards and use them for imaginative play. A free PDF of the backyard birds cards is included in the free discovery guide.
Bird’s Nest
This is a fake birds nest. I am that person that is worried about cats bringing diseases to sandboxes, so I’m sure it won’t surprise anyone that I am just a little paranoid about the diseases birds can carry too. Asher has seen and observed real birds nests outdoors before, but I wanted to have something on our shelf inside that both boys could explore. This fake birds nest was perfect for that! Aiden likes to put the bird figures in this nest too (the sizing isn’t really to scale for that but it’s still fun).
Worms Sensory Activity
We did a few different sensory-focused activities throughout our Montessori-inspired birds discovery; the unit guide shares a few other ideas and recipes. This one included some taste-safe fake dirt dough, fake worms, and some of the Backyard Birds TOOB figures. Both of the boys liked the texture of the dough. I love that sensory activities are usually great options for different-age siblings to explore together.
My boys enjoyed this discovery unit so much, I know we will be creating and sharing more Montessori-inspired discovery units for infants-preschoolers in our future! If the discovery guide was helpful to you, I’d love for you to leave a comment below. I hope you get to enjoy some of these activities if you know some little bird-lovers too!
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Erin says
This is awesome and I love all of these! My kids and I love birds and this is totally up our alley. Thank you for always sharing the best ideas!
Mhea Macabenta says
I’m into Montessori too! I love these bird activities you prepared.
KMenko says
I always like to find other Montessori fans! Thanks for checking out the activities. My boys loved this discovery unit so much.
Dawn P says
Wow! These are good for learning in and out, for feeling textures, and “getting dirty”! Cool activities! Thanks for sharing!
KMenko says
They were perfect for that! I sometimes have to remind myself that it’s ok to let things go and let them just get messy and explore, but I’m glad when I do because those are always some of their favorite times!
Christen says
This was a great post! How did you come up with all those ideas? That is where I struggle. My boys are more like your boys where my daughter is like me, workbooks. This also made me realize I need to be more aware of interests my boys are making and to focus on teaching them about it. Thank you.
KMenko says
Aw thanks! I get a lot of my ideas just thinking about what they are loving and showing interest in, and spending too much time “window shopping” on Amazon ha. My boys definitely like the hands-on, tactile activities and that’s what I was like as a student. I think it’s so interesting to observe differences in kids and how they like to learn. Hoping to make more of these for other interest areas! Thanks for reading and I’m glad it was helpful to you.
Ann says
I usually dive right into this period of the “absorbent mind” and create a Montessori-inspired discovery unit for them…
I like this idea, it keeps the kids interested.
KMenko says
Thanks, I think it does… I like that it expands upon what they are currently showing interest in.
Silver Pyanov says
What a fun topic to explore. Really love the ideas you shared.
KMenko says
Birds was such a fun topic! Glad you enjoyed the ideas!
Mallie says
These are awesome sensory activities! Would love to try the worms sensory activity for my class! Thanks for this!
KMenko says
Oh great! The sensory activities were some of my favorite parts of the discovery. Hope you get to try out the worms one!
Kate says
If it involves books and fake worms, my boys are going to be ALL over it! Haha. Definitely done things we’ll be trying soon!