Today is Wildlife Conversation Day. And we’re learning about wildlife in the Amazon Rainforest. Be sure you grab my Amazon Rainforest unit study and free lapbooks.
Two of the most easily identifiable birds are the parrot and the toucan.
Both birds are bright with distinctive colors.
This easy paper plate craft is a great early elementary activity to go along with your rainforest unit study.
Also, I really enjoy including beautiful quality books.
Add in activities not only during a specific science study or project but pull them out during an art project to reference.
Science doesn’t only have to be taught during science.
Fun Bird Resources
A wonderfully illustrated book like The Big Book of Birds can be brought out to investigate.
In this case, look at the colors of the birds, the shape of their beaks and talk about their habitat and habits.
Naturally, your child will pick up so much information as you read the little snippets aloud as they look at the pictures.
These Exotic Bird Toobs from Safari LTD are also a fantastic addition to your rainforest study.
Too, you get a great variety of birds including a toucan and a blue and gold macaw.
If you want a little more variety instead of just birds they also have a rainforest one with different animals
Rainforest Activities
- Check out my 3 free Rainforest Lapbooks.
- Try Amazon Rainforest Theme Gross Motor With Afternoon in the Amazon.
- Make a rainforest diorama.
- Create a fun pineapple candle.
- Study resources like –Chocolate Grows in The Rainforest.
- Enjoy some fun sensory play with Jungle Slime.
- Learn about the resources we get from the rainforest like chocolate, bananas, medicines, and more.
- Visit a pet store and see a parrot in person.
This cutie is a Sun Conure which is a small parrot.
Fun Facts About Birds of the Rainforest
- All macaws are parrots, but not all parrots are macaws.
- Of the 3,800 species found in the rainforest, 1,300 of them are bird species.
- Birds of the Amazon Rainforest eat a variety of foods including leaves, fruits, nuts and insects.
- Of the 18 species of Macaws in the Amazon Rainforest, several are currently on the endangered list and some species may already be extinct.
- A toucan’s bill has been adapted to crush and saw the food that it eats such as fruits and nuts.
- The parrot uses its beak as an additional hand to assist in climbing up trees so it can locate harder to reach food.
- Out of the four layers of the Amazon Rainforest, the majority of birds live in the canopy layer.
- Rainforest birds range from tiny hummingbirds to large macaws.
- Screaming and loud vocalization is the way wild parrots and other birds communicate with one other.
- The loudest bird in the Amazon Rainforest is the male white bellbird.
Other Wildlife in the Amazon Rainforest Resources
Then, add some more activities below.
- 19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities
- Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey
- The Ultimate Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the Amazon Rain Forest
- 100+ Best and Free Tropical Amazon Rainforest Educators Resources
Finally, look below to make a macaw and toucan bird.
How to Make a Red Macaw Parrot and Toucan Craft
You will need:
- 3 paper plates
- Craft paint
- Craft feathers
- Google eyes
- Paintbrushes
- Glue
- Scissors
First, for the red macaw parrot, cut 2 paper plates in half.
Paint 3 of the halves entirely red, and for the final half it will be half red and half yellow.
Allow the paint to dry completely.
Cut one of the red halves in half again to create wings.
Glue the red and yellow plate (which is the head and beak) perpendicular to the solid red half that makes up the body.
Add the wings to the sides with glue as well.
Glue some craft feathers together to form a long colorful tail.
Also, attach the tail at the back of the plate to the base with glue.
Finally add a google eye.
For the toucan, it is much the same but with different colors. Cut 1 plate in half and paint it all black.
Cut a beak out of the second plate.
Use a piece of scrap leftover from the beak to make his tail, cutting it into a little wedge and painting it black as well.
We left his “wings” tucked in but you can create flapping wings like on the parrot if you want to add that step.
Paint beak beautiful bright colors and let your child look at them online or in a book for reference.
Let the paint dry and then add a little bright yellow to the throat area.
Once all the pieces are dry, glue the beak to the body across the top and glue the tail piece to the bottom.
Add a google eye to finish him up.
