Enjoy a fun and simple K is for Kiwi Craft with your preschooler through elementary-aged kids using supplies you already have on hand. Also, look at my pages How to Homeschool Preschool, Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook/ Fun Edible Bird Nests and Homeschool Geography for more learning ideas and teaching tips.
New Zealand is one of the most fascinating places in the world, especially when it comes to its birds. Because the islands are separated from other land masses, many unique bird species are found there that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.
Learning about New Zealand birds is a wonderful way to explore geography, science, and nature in one lesson.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at some of the country’s most interesting, feathered residents and creating a simple kiwi bird craft to celebrate New Zealand’s national symbol.
BOOKS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND FOR KIDS WHO LOVE TO READ AND BE READ TO
Next, look at some living books to add to your unit study or home library.
6 New Zealand Books
Books about New Zealand or set in New Zealand to add to your home library or use for a unit study.
Ten-year-old Milly had always dreamed of living in thecountry and owning all sorts of animals. So when her parents buya piece of land and move their six children into a ninety-year-oldbarn, Milly can't believe her luck.But she never imagined that living the simple life wouldinclude mucking out a filthy water tank, gathering endlesssupplies of firewood, clearing the land, and rescuing animals in a'hundred year' storm.Nor did she expect to hear deep groanings in the night...
Take your child on an exciting journey through New Zealand — a land of towering mountains, sparkling lakes, rich Māori culture, and fascinating history.
In this engaging workbook, children will explore:
Famous landmarks like Aoraki / Mount Cook and Milford Sound Geothermal wonders in Rotorua Forests, coastlines, glaciers, and natural features.
A true New Zealand story of a dolphin that captured the hearts of passengers in the 1880s.This is the heart-warming tale of Pelorus Jack, a rare white Risso’s dolphin who delighted passengers over 100 years ago as he guided steamships through the rough waters of French Pass into the calm waters of the Marlborough Sounds. Passengers from around the world, even royalty, came to see him and it is believed he became the first sea creature to be protected by law in anycountry.A life-size bronze statue of Pelorus Jack stands at Collinet Point, overlooking French Pass.
A bestseller revised: the new edition of this essential reference for identifying New Zealand birds features its biggest update ever.
The New Zealand Bird Books continues the tradition of the Burgess books, as Peter Rapeti takes his travels through the Islands of New Zealand discovering the fascinating bird life along the way.
Weng Wai Chan, author of A Lizard's Tale, winner of the New Zealand Book Award
Children of the Rush is the winner of a Notable Book Award from the Storylines Trust and a currently finalist of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults (winner announced August 10, 2023).
Book One It’s 1861, and gold fever is sweeping the world. Otherwise sensible adults have gone mad and will do anything to get their hands on the precious metal. But two children have been caught up in the rush. Michael and Atarangi couldn’t be more different, but they share one thing: each has a remarkable and magical talent. Circumstances conspire to bring the children together in the remote and inhospitable goldfields, and they’re thrust into a world where lawlessness, greed, and cruelty reign. When the children find out that a cut-throat gang stalks the goldfields, preying upon the innocent, they have a choice to make: turn a blind eye, or fight back?
First, learn a bit of geography and history.
GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand sits isolated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean to the right of Australia.
The town of Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu holds the Guinness World Record for having the longest name. I wouldn’t want to have to say that every day!
New Zealand was one of the last sizable territories on Earth to be settled by Polynesian explorers who became the Maori.
Because it is a narrow strip, no location on the island of New Zealand is more than 80 miles from the sea but 932 miles from the closest land, Australia.
Because of this isolation, many birds evolved in unusual ways.
Some lost the ability to fly because they had few natural predators.
Others developed special feeding habits and adaptations that helped them survive in New Zealand’s forests, mountains, and wetlands.
New Zealand’s birds are unlike those found anywhere else in the world.
From the curious kea and musical tui to the rare kakapo and national bird, the kiwi, these remarkable creatures tell the story of a land shaped by isolation.
If you want an amazing book for your study that you will reach for time and again, we found a wonderful map full of information in MAPS, just look at that oversized spread!
FACTS ABOUT BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND
KIWI FACTS
The kiwi is probably the most famous bird in New Zealand. It is so important to the country’s identity that people from New Zealand are often nicknamed “Kiwis.”
- It is New Zealand’s National Bird.
- They cannot fly and have tiny wings hidden beneath their feathers.
- Kiwis use their long beaks to search for worms and insects underground.
- Their nostrils are located at the tip of their beaks, and this gives them an excellent sense of smell.
- Kiwi eggs are huge compared to the size of the mother bird.
- The kiwi is found nowhere else in the wild.
KEA FACTS
- Kea parrots are considered to be one of the smartest birds on Earth.
- The kea is the world’s only alpine parrot and lives high in the mountains of New Zealand’s South Island.
- They are known for being intelligent and curious creatures.
- They have bright orange feathers hidden under their wings of olive green, which help them blend into their environment but show off a beautiful splash of color when they fly.
TUI FACTS
- Tuibirds have shiny black feathers with blue and green iridescence on them.
- They are known for their complex songs and calls; they have two voice boxes, which allow them to produce two notes at once.
- A tui can mimic sounds, including human speech and even ringtones.
KAKAPO FACTS
- Kakapos can live for more than 60 years.
- The kakapo is the world’s heaviest parrot.
- It is nocturnal and spends most of its time on the ground.
- Kakapo cannot fly, but they are excellent climbers.
- Their green feathers help them blend into forest vegetation.
- They are among the rarest birds in the world.
Today, conservationists carefully monitor every remaining kakapo. Due to their efforts, the population has slowly increased, making the kakapo one of the world’s greatest conservation success stories.
NEW ZEALAND CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES
- New Zealand Volcano Science Experiments!
- Poi Spinning: Easy Crafts for Kids – SpinPoi
- Travel To New Zealand From Home
- Where is New Zealand Video
- Kids’ Clay Koru Necklace
K IS FOR KIWI CRAFT
Homemade puffy paint gives your Kiwi bird a softer feather-like texture, and using a plastic fork as a paintbrush is just downright fun.
You will need:
- Brown construction paper
- Cream or yellow construction paper
- Google eyes
- Glue stick
- Plastic fork
- Scissors
First, use brown construction paper to cut out an oval body and a small head.
Cut a long tapering beak and 3-toed bird feet from the yellow or tan paper.
Mix foaming shave gel and brown paint.
Use a fork to apply it all over the head and body.
Allow to dry and go back over the dry paint with a fork, scraping in different directions to give it some texture that resembles the feathers.
Glue the head to the body and add googly eyes, the long, narrow beak, and feet with a glue stick.
