Writing Activities: Year 3
Blue tit
The blue tit lives across Europe and parts of the Middle East, and there are about 15 million blue tits in the UK in winter. Unlike many birds, blue tits do not usually migrate. Instead, they spend their lives close to where they are born.
Blue tits are small birds, growing to around 12cm long. They like to eat insects, seeds and nuts, and are popular with gardeners as they also eat aphids, which can destroy plants. Blue tits are very agile, and are often seen hopping around slender branches and even hanging upside down when looking for food. In this clip we found out about a surprising part of the female blue tit’s diet.
Credit: BBC Two – Natural World
Literacy Idea
Invent a device that could help the female blue tit find snail shells to eat for their calcium. Write a letter to the blue tit, including a set of instructions explaining how to use your invention.
You should…
- Address the blue tits – Dear blue tits,
- Explain why you are writing to them – I am writing to you today to…
- Include numbered instructions of how to use your invention. For example:
- Take the invention to an area where you think there might be a large snail population
- Switch on the invention by pressing the big red button.
- …
- Sign off your letter – Kind wishes, (your name)
Wider curriculum idea
Draw and label a diagram of your invention, showing how the blue tits can use it to find snail shells.