7 Fun Facts About Swan | How to Create a Handprint Swan

There are so many fun facts about swan to turn a simple unit study into something more. Also, you’ll love my post How To Make A Fun Animal Soap Carving & A Quick Study on A Swan.

You could keep it simple, just focus on the swan, a variety of aquatic birds, or even expand into an entire pond unit study.

Swans are one of the most eye-catching aquatic birds, with their long, elegant necks and large size.

They are found in temperate environments, preferring lowland and freshwater wetlands.

Also, they take to man-made artificial water sources such as reservoirs, gravel pits, ornamental lakes, and even canals.

We are creating a sweet but simple canvas swan “painting” with a pair of little hands and some paint.

Then you can also dive into fun facts about swans and check out my suggestions for more books and activities.      

Do you have swans in your area?

Take a few hours to go enjoy them in person and remember that processed white bread is not good for them.

If you want to feed these feathered friends take things like grains, vegetable matter, corn, chopped cabbage, spinach, frozen peas as well as swan and duck food pellets from a feed store.

Swan Books and Resources

Next, add some of these resources to your unit study.

Next, look at these facts about swans.

7 Fun Facts About Swan

1. Most swans are found in the northern United States, Canada, and Alaska.
2. Swans can sleep on either land or the water. They can either sleep while standing on one leg or while they are floating in the water.
3. All the mute swans in England and Wales are owned by the Crown of England.
4. While you will most commonly see white swans there is also a black swan. Black swans are native to Australia and New Zealand.
5. Baby swans are called cygnets, female swans are called Pen, and males are called Cob.
6. The term ‘swan song’ comes from the ancient Greek belief that a swan sang a song of death when its life would end.
7. Swans are very important to their aquatic ecosystems. They eat plants and small aquatic animals and help spread seeds and aquatic animal eggs by way of their feces. Their swimming stirs up sediment from the bottom to help circulate nutrients and support the health of plants and fish below the surface.

Too, another favorite resource we love is The Big Book of Birds.

It is a wonderful resource for all things bird, an oversized hardback it has a pretty two-page spread on swans and plenty of info on habits, nests, eggs, and habitats of birds in general.

Finally, look at how to create a hand print swan.

How to Create a Handprint Swan

You will need:

• A canvas
• 2 shades of blue craft paint
• Green craft paint
• White craft paint
• Paintbrushes
• Paint pens
• A little hand

First, choose two shades of blue and let your child paint the sky one shade and water at the bottom the other.

Don’t forget to have them paint the sides of the canvas the corresponding colors all the way around to finish it off.

Allow the paint to dry, if you want to speed up the process a bit you can use a blow dryer on low to get it to dry to the touch so you can get to the next step.

Paint your child’s hand entirely white and have them press it into the water portion thumbs up, if you want two swans like I have here paint the other hand and press it into the other side.

Use a paintbrush to create the rest of the curving neck.

Allow the swans to dry and use paint pens to add details like eyes, beaks, and wings.

You can also add in some details like grass and clouds.

Allow it to dry fully and it is ready to hang up.