What bird is THAT?!: Expanding our nature knowledge to support young children
This episode of the Mindful Turtle Podcast originally aired December 22, 2024. To receive podcast updates and other nature-based early childhood education news, subscribe to Samara Early Learning’s weekly newsletter written by Dr. Rachel A. Larimore.
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In this episode of the Mindful Turtle, Rachel explains how what may seem like a simple task--expanding our knowledge of a local bird--can actually enrich children's learning and spark their curiosity for the wildlife around them.
This week’s invitation is to use a bird book (or app) to identify one new bird in your area.
Our knowledge doesn't exist to lecture children about nature. Instead, natural history knowledge helps us recognize teachable moments and guide meaningful exploration. For example, knowing local birds helps us notice subtle differences in their behaviors that might intrigue children, or understand which questions might lead to deeper discoveries. This knowledge becomes a tool for supporting children's natural curiosity rather than replacing it with facts.
While we might feel pressure to "know it all" before teaching, the truth is that our ongoing personal discovery of nature enriches both our teaching and our students' experiences. When we actively build our own connection with nature — such as learning about a new bird — we become better equipped to spark curiosity in children. After all, showing that we too are constantly learning and wondering about nature models the very curiosity we hope to inspire.
* To expand your knowledge of local birds, check out the Merlin ID app by Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
