Art Lesson Plan: Colorful Bird Chat Line

Ever wonder why birds sit on power lines? How do they hold on? Why do they all face one way? How many birds can sit on a power line at one time? Can birds talk to each other? Are they social towards each other?

Before you research the answers to these questions, take a moment and go outside to observe birds in your neighborhood through a window. Take note of their sizes, shapes, and colors. Do you know where these birds come from and where they nest? Are the birds in your neighborhood social? Do they talk to each other? Do you hear them sing? How many different songs do you hear?

Here are a few facts to get started:

• Birds sit on power lines because they are very similar to the branches they sit on in nature
• Their feet are designed to lock onto a round cylindrical object, such as the aforementioned branches and power lines
• Birds all face the same way to have the wind at their backs
• Birds are very social and will make room for another bird as it lands on a wire
• They gather in large groups during migration to their summer or winter homes
• The birds we see most often are in the family of songbirds
• Birds like to sit up high so they can see prey or look for food

Now, for the fun questions! Can birds talk to each other? What are they looking at? Have your students decide the answers to these questions or even create a story around them.

Colorful Bird Creation

This project allows students to study birds and their habitats. They’ll also experiment with mixed media products, create an assemblage, and hone basic math skills. The composition is an assemblage with students creating the components on separate sheets of paper.

Have students start by sketching out an image of their chat line. To create each bird’s body, use a ruler, a piece of cardboard, a circle maker, a tin can, or a bottle. Discuss the components of a bird and how circles and half circles can be used to create the needed shapes for a bird.

Once a design has been chosen, have students draw the circles and half circles in the sizes they want on drawing paper. Then, they’ll use a variety of mediums or materials to color the parts of their birds. These can include crayons, tissue paper, markers, watercolors, newspaper, gift wrap, or magazines.

Don’t forget about the other items in the composition! Your bird chat line also needs tree branches, leaves, power lines, and poles. What materials can they use to make these? Once all the composition pieces are colored or created, they can be positioned on their paper. Glue them down only after the pieces are arranged in the composition desired.

Once complete, students can glue their birds together on the chat line. Now it’s time for their fabulous story… What are your birds chatting about on their chat line?

Colorful Bird Chat Line Lesson Plan Objectives

• Students use a variety of materials that can easily be found at home or in the classroom
• Students discover that an assemblage process allows them to be more creative with color and texture
• Studying birds, habitats, migration patterns, and shapes will integrate science and math into this cross-curricular art project

Click Here for the Free Colorful Bird Chat Line Art Lesson Plan

Tips for the Colorful Bird Chat Line

As students color in their background, have them add details such as buildings, trees, landmarks, and other birds flying.

Have students watch the 2001 documentary “Winged Migration” to learn more about how and why birds migrate.

When writing the story, think about the types of questions birds would chat about: Where are we going to eat dinner? Should we sleep during the day or night? Why can’t humans fly?

More Bird Art Lesson Plans & Ideas

Want to try something else? Check out these other art lesson plans and view our Art Lesson Plan collection for even more!

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