This activity allows you to learn about and explore the pigeon family in a paper craft activity in the run up to the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch which usually occurs at the end of January (be sure to check out their webpage & sign up to take part - it costs nothing and is a wonderful activity to do). It's fun, fairly easy and can be adapted to all abilities so great for all the family to take part in. You can change the media you work in to change the ability level or get the family to draw their own birds if a printer isn't available to you.
The Pigeon family has long associated itself with us humans despite having culturally fallen out of favour in current times, however there is much to love about this amazing bird that we should all remember. Pigeons can be seen in gardens, parks, towns and cities all year round making them an easy one to find and identify.
The Wood Pigeon is the UK’s most common and largest pigeon and this is the one we see created in this clip.
Pigeons can see in colour like us and they also have the ability to see UV light too (not a superpower we have) and like the crow - pigeons are intelligent and can tell the difference between people. They can also recognise themselves in a mirror like we do!
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Whilst using this resource to inspire learning, know you are helping you and your family's wellbeing by:
1) Get Active - Get yourselves out your front doors for a walk to a local park, woodland or area you know to be populated with the common pigeon with a purpose. Take some photos for your own images to work with once you are home, or a small note pad & pen/pencil to sketch some shapes you can see while the pigeons....pigeon about!
2) Keep Learning -There are many wonderful facts to learn about the pigeon family from books and online sources. Why not try the RSPB website and enter Pigeon into the search engine. You will be able to find out all about the Pigeon & Dove family and see some examples.
3) Be Mindful- Encouragement is the best thing ever - take a moment when your paper craft pigeon/birds are complete to imagine being each and every one of them and what it may be like to gain a birds-eye perspective on you and your family!
4) Practice Kindness- Remember that our relationship to the pigeon has dramatically changed in recent history, take the time to remember to leave out some nuts, berries & seeds for them and the bird community too.
5) Think Community - Share your fabulous bird outcomes with your online community to inspire others to create too!
Items Required: A4 sized paper - you can use printer paper (or print off the pigeon shape if more appropriate for you- see above), sugar paper doesn't seem to hold, but anything thicker through to thin card will work well. Always see what you have in your card/paper recycling bin to reuse, this is both economical and helps our planet.
Colouring items: this could be felt-tipped pens as we have used but use what you have to hand: pencil crayons, wax crayons, paint pens, block/poster/watercolour/acrylic paints etc or you could even collage if you are creating these with card.
Glue - glue stick or pva crafting glue is fine for these
Scissors
Pencil for drawing Optional Items: You may find having a ruler & pencil sharpener to hand useful
A suitable surface to be working on - many art materials can be difficult to remove so prepare for this.
Aprons
Pigeon Photo by: Kalpesh Patel on Unsplash
Background Music by: https://www.bensound.com