Communication in the Wild: Songs & Books
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by Steve Jenkins
Children will touch each page in wonderment as they discover these amazing paper collage animals. Children will learn how animals communicate- some through noises and others through actions.
After reading this book, share each page again and have the children act out the different ways the animals communicate. If the children are older, invite them to play charades using animal communication ideas from the book.
How and Why do Animals Communicate?
by Bobbie Kalman
In this book, the reader will learn how and why different animals communicate. This book uses real images of animals and asks the reader to compare their methods of communicating with the animals way of communicating.
After reading this book, work with your children to make a communication compare and contrast chart between humans and animals.
Depending on the age of the reader, you can make more elaborate compare and contrast charts using 3-4 topics (ex. human, lizard, cow, owl) instead of just 2 topics (humans & animals).
by Etta Kaner
Animal Talk not only discusses how and why animals communicate, but also offers plenty of hands-on experiments for the reader to reinforce the new learning. For example, after learning about animals who communicate through smell, the book suggests blind folding the reader and having them guess scents.
While reading this book, we suggest participating in all of their hands-on experiments. If you’re up for a challenge, create your own hands-on experiment that teaches how an animal communicates.
The Little Book of ___ Bird Sounds by Caz Pinnington
Each of Caz Pinnington’s books focus on a specific location for listening to birds. Based on where you would like to go birding, you can purchase books for your children to learn the bird sounds they would most likely hear- the backyard book is a great one to start with! These are sturdy board books with sound buttons that are engaging for children of all ages. The book makes realistic bird sounds that will help listeners distinguish birds based on tempo, pitch, whistles, and buzzes. It is a cognitive skill to be able to distinguish bird sounds and is wonderful for brain development.
After reading these books, take the books outside and see if you can identify any of the birds from the books based on the sounds you hear. Travel to different places to hear different birds and record all of the birds you have found in a nature notebook!
by Lynne Kelly
Song for a Whale is an award-winning fictional novel about a 12 year old tech whiz named Iris. Iris is deaf and relates to a whale who is unable to speak to other whales. Iris decides to find a way to communicate with the whale. This is a heartwarming tale that gives insight into communicating as humans and animals and the obstacles some must overcome.
After reading this story, research about whales and learn about the songs they sing. Learn about how different whale species use sound/song, echolocation, and body language to communicate and navigate the ocean.
After reading this story, and getting a glimpse into the deaf culture and ASL, start learning the ASL alphabet!
Samuel Morse, That’s Who by Tracy Nelson Maurer and As Easy as Morse Code by Sanyukta Bhatnagar teach children the history behind Samuel Morse’s creation of the Morse Code and how to learn and memorize Morse Code.
After reading these books, practice using Morse code to send messages. Later this week, we will share about how to create Morse Code messages in nature play!
by Jennifer Ackerman
This book is for our adult nature lovers! Jennifer Ackerman shares her new knowledge of birds after studying them all over the globe. Birds are amazing creatures once we understand them. Learn about bird intelligence through the study of their actions- deception, kidnapping, manipulation, but also, cooperation, teamwork and kindness.
After reading this book, create a birding journal and study birds in your area just as Jennifer Ackman did around the globe. What traits do you see your local birds exhibiting?
Insects all communicate differently- use this song to teach children how!
(Sung to the tune of Frère Jacques or in English it’s known as Brother John)
