Children’s Book: ‘Piffy and Zenzi Go Birding’

Activity Introduction

“Piffy and Zenzy Go Birding” aims to raise awareness about wetlands, introduce some animal inhabitants, and explore threats and conservation solutions to protect these vital ecosystems. Join poodles, Piffy and Zenzy, on their birding adventure as they discover a diversity of species that leads to a threatened bird few have ever seen…

Grade: 4-6

Prior Knowledge: Prior knowledge is not required, but a basic understanding of an ecosystem would be beneficial.

Resources Required: The children's book can be used as set literature to develop reading skills while raising environmental awareness or for lessons in the Natural Sciences. The audiobook can assist with these activities and requires a speaker (sound amplifier).

Key Concepts & Skills: Concepts: The story teaches bird identification and ecology (sexual dimorphism, bill adaptations, behaviours), wetland science (formation, natural filtration systems, ecosystem services), and conservation (threats like pollution and drainage, actions like recycling and habitat protection). Skills: Children build scientific observation and species identification skills, reading and vocabulary (technical terms like biodiversity, peat, dimorphism), environmental literacy about ecosystem functions, and critical thinking by comparing species and understanding structure-function relationships in nature.

Extra Notes: Find the read- along audiobook video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGUCv7JqE-4

Duration: 1 hour

Level of teacher facilitation: Moderate-High

Curriculum links: The book supports Intermediate Phase CAPS requirements (Grades 4-6) for Natural Sciences and Technology (Life and Living strand) and English Home Language (reading comprehension and vocabulary). The story provides an engaging, narrative-based approach to learning scientific concepts about ecosystems, adaptations, biodiversity, and conservation.

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