Big Schools/Garden Birdwatch | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with The Big Schools’ Birdwatch or The Big Garden Birdwatch. These are annual citizen science events organised by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), typically taking place in late January. The Big Schools’ Birdwatch runs for several weeks in January, encouraging schools to spend an hour observing and recording birds in their grounds. The Big Garden Birdwatch is a nationwide survey for the public to record birds in their gardens or local parks over a specific weekend in January. Both events aim to help the RSPB monitor bird populations and raise awareness about wildlife conservation. For official information, dates, and to participate, please visit the RSPB website: www.rspb.org.uk.

Understanding The Big Schools’ & Garden Birdwatch in EYFS & KS1

Chirp, tweet, let's count the birds! 🦜🦅 The Big Schools’ Birdwatch and The Big Garden Birdwatch are annual citizen science events organised by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). The Big Schools’ Birdwatch runs through January and February with the The Big Garden Birdwatch in 2026 taking place between Friday 23rd and Sunday 25th January. Both initiatives are crucial for helping the RSPB monitor bird populations across the UK, providing vital data on wildlife trends and raising awareness about conservation.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, these events provide a wonderful and practical theme for exploring nature, wildlife, observation skills, data collection, environmental awareness, and maths (counting and recording). It's about fostering a connection with local wildlife, understanding the importance of scientific observation, and encouraging a sense of responsibility towards our feathered friends. This time of year offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about ecology and citizen science both exciting and impactful.

Why Is Birdwatching Important for Young Children?

Integrating birdwatching and learning about birds into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) improves their connection with the natural world, developing key scientific skills, and promoting environmental awareness.

• Observation Skills: Encourages children to look closely, listen carefully, and notice details about the birds they see, developing crucial scientific observation skills.

• Environmental Awareness: Helps children understand local ecosystems, the needs of wildlife, and the importance of conservation.

• Counting & Data Handling: Provides a real-world context for counting, tallying, and recording data, linking to early numeracy skills.

• Patience & Focus: Requires children to sit quietly and wait, developing patience and concentration.

• Sensory Exploration: Engages senses through listening to bird song, observing their flight, and noticing their colours.

• Vocabulary & Communication: Introduces names of different bird species, colours, and descriptive words, enhancing language development.

• Empathy for Nature: Fosters a sense of care and respect for living creatures and their habitats.

Engaging Birdwatch Activities for The Big Schools’ & Garden Birdwatch (0-7 Year Olds)

Make The Big Schools’ & Garden Birdwatch a truly investigative and nature-filled experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on observation, counting, and appreciating our garden birds! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated 'Birds' page and specific 'UK Garden Bird' resources.

Here's some inspiration for spotting and celebrating birds in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• Birdwatch Observation Station: Set up a quiet area near a window or in your outdoor space where children can observe birds. Provide binoculars (real or homemade using cardboard tubes) and our 'Garden Birdwatch Mat’ and 'Garden Birdwatch Mat'. Use 'UK Birdwatch Draw What You See - Binoculars' or 'Birdwatch Draw What You See - Branch' for drawing observations.

• Bird Counting & Recording: Use the official RSPB Big Schools' Birdwatch forms or create your own simple tally charts. Our 'Garden Birdwatch Checklist' is also available.

• Learning About UK Garden Birds: Introduce common garden birds. Use our 'UK Garden Birds Colouring' for creative recognition. Display our 'Garden Birdwatch Word Cards' to learn names.

• Bird Body Parts: Learn about the anatomy of different birds with Body Parts Poster & Writing Sheets for Blue Tit, Blackbird , Pigeon, Magpie and Sparrow.

• Bird Puzzles & Games: Engage fine motor and cognitive skills with 'UK Garden Bird 2-Piece Puzzles', 'UK Garden Bird Pom Pom Mats', 'Garden Birdwatch Egg Match Game', and 'Garden Birdwatch Picture Snap Cards Game'.

• Bird-Themed Numeracy: Practice counting with our 'UK Birds Number Slice Puzzles (1-5 & 1-10)', and 'UK Birds Number Slice Puzzles - Colouring (1-5 & 1-10)'. Specifically for sparrows, use 'Feed The Sparrow Counting Puzzles'.

• Pencil Control & Fine Motor Skills: Develop hand-eye coordination with 'Feed The Robin Pencil Control Mats', 'Feed The Robin Pencil Control Activity Sheets', 'Feed The Sparrow Pencil Control Activity Sheets', and 'Feed The Sparrow Pencil Control Mats'. Our 'Mummy Owl And Owlets' Pencil Control Sheets/Mats' and 'Mummy Owl And Owlets' Pencil Control Mats' also offer engaging activities.

• Bird Songs & Sounds: Listen to recordings of different bird calls and try to imitate them.

• Helping Birds in Winter: Discuss how we can support birds, especially during colder months. Use 'Helping Wildlife In Winter' Poster’.

• Design Your Own Bird: Encourage creativity with 'Design Your Own UK Garden Bird Sheets' or let children draw their 'My Favourite Garden Bird Sheets'.

• General Bird Resources: Our 'Birds - Display Banner', 'Birds - Silhouette Puzzles', 'Birds - 0-20 Counting Display Posters/Cards', and 'Birds - 0-20 Colour And Count Display Posters/Cards' provide broader bird-themed learning.

• Explore More: Please visit our 'Birds' page to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme!

These activities offer great inspiration for making The Big Schools’ & Garden Birdwatch a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering observation skills, environmental awareness, numeracy, and a genuine love for nature.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘Big Schools/Garden Birdwatch’

Free Bird related activities for EYFS & KS1:

UK Garden Bird related activities for EYFS & KS1:

Robin & Helping Wildlife in Winter activities for EYFS & KS1:

Please visit our ‘Birds’ page to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme.

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for January

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

SEARCH ‘LITTLE OWLS Resources’ USING THE FOLLOWING MENU BUTTONS…

Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'The Big Schools’ Birdwatch' and 'The Big Garden Birdwatch'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), which organises these events, other than providing their official website as a source of information about the initiative. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with these events. For official information, dates, and to participate, please visit their website at www.rspb.org.uk.