Learning Resources
Introduction
The Curlew is Britain’s largest wading bird, with a wonderful long curved bill, long legs and mottled feathers. Their long bubbling song for many signals the beginning of Spring, and they are often seen in our farmlands, uplands and coastal areas. In 2015 many words describing the natural world were removed from the Junior Oxford Dictionary, one of them being Curlew. This gradual move of the younger generations away from nature is something we wish to address. We want to give everyone the opportunity to learn more about these wonderful waders and the environment in which they live, so this page is full of resources and activity ideas to help you learn all about them. Lower down you will also find out wonderful Curlew Cam, streaming live from a Shropshire Curlew nest for all to enjoy!
Activities
Whether you are a teacher looking for classroom activities, a home educator wanting to delve into the world of local wildlife, or just want to have some fun, take a look at our activities to find something you want to try. All of our activities come with complete instructions and are perfect for anyone of primary school age!
Some of our activities involve journeying into the great outdoors, so make sure you grab your wellie boots and your suncream and get exploring.
Our activities require a range of equipment, but there are some that can be done with nothing but a paper and pen, so everyone can get involved.
Lesson Plans
Our activities are linked to the National Curriculum, and are fitted into premade lesson plans that teachers or home educators can use straight away, or modify to suit their needs.
Download our lesson plans from the links opposite for free!
Curlew Cam
Why not take a peep at a real Curlew on our live Curlew Cam being watched by people around the world.
Both parents incubate (sit on) the eggs on a nest made on the ground, but they are famously hard to spot!
Why not try and figure out how long each bird has been sitting on the eggs for. Do you think you could sit still for that long?
As the season progresses look out for the little fluffy chicks popping out of the eggs, but you’ll have to pay close attention because the chicks leave the nest only 48 hours after hatching. They don’t hang around long!
Curlew Cam ad this outreach work is being sponsored by the Curlew Recover Partnership
