Migrating Birds Game
Many birds migrate in the fall to find food and warmer climates. Pretending to be migrating birds helps children understand animal behavior while engaging their imagination and physical skills.
What Do you Do?
- Go outside to an open area, such as a playground, field, or park.
- Explain that children will pretend to be birds migrating for the season.
- Without prompting, allow children to decide how to “fly” — walking, running, hopping, flapping arms, or moving in groups.
- Encourage them to choose where to rest along the way (safe spots, “trees,” or imaginary lakes).
- Introduce natural obstacles like “wind” (running against the wind), “predators” (moving safely around classmates acting as obstacles), or “storms” (areas they must navigate carefully).
- Let children plan their routes, make decisions about speed, direction, and rest, and adjust as conditions change.
- Optional: Invite children to share what challenges they faced as migrating birds and what strategies helped them reach their destination.
What Do you Need?
- Open outdoor space
- Cones, sticks, or markers for safe resting spots (optional)
- Warm clothing suitable for fall or early winter in Saskatchewan (jackets, hats, gloves, boots)
Safety considerations:
Ensure the play area is free of hazards such as icy patches, uneven ground, or obstacles that could cause trips or falls. Children should dress appropriately for the weather and be supervised to prevent collisions or injury during active movement. Encourage safe play by keeping “predator” and “storm” challenges low-impact and monitoring energy levels to avoid fatigue or overexertion.
Benefits:
- Intellectual: Children learn about bird migration, problem-solving, planning, and decision-making as they navigate obstacles.
- Spiritual/Emotional: Imagining themselves as birds fosters empathy for animals, connection to nature, and creative expression.
- Physical: Running, hopping, flapping, and moving in different ways develops gross motor skills, coordination, and stamina.
- Emotional: Working in groups or pairs encourages teamwork, cooperation, and confidence while navigating obstacles together.