Birds in Halloween Folklore
Krystal Smith
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(121)
Investigate the superstitions and learn the facts about the birds behind the folklore.
Class experience
US Grade 6 - 9
Why do we call a group of crows a murder? Is seeing blackbirds a bad sign? How did our feathered friends make their way into our spooky stories and folktales? In this class we investigate the folktales and superstitions that gave rise to birds as Halloween icons. We look at different poems, legends, and myths from all over the world and throughout history that show a more mysterious side to birds. In the second part of the class, we will investigate the facts. Learners will be introduced...
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
None of the content is purposefully scary or violent, but here is some content that may be sensitive for some learners. In a poem, telling the future depends on the number of magpies: "Thirteen beware it’s the devil himself." Superstition that magpies have a drop of devil's blood in their tongue. In the poem Sing a Song of Sixpence: "When down came a blackbird, And pecked off her nose." Brief discussions of bird aggression.
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(121)
Dear Parents, I am looking forward to teaching your students about animals and science! I graduated with a Master's Degree in Science in 2019, with a focus on wildlife biology. I have taught Ornithology for 6 years. My passions are wildlife...
Group Class
$15
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 39 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
1-10 learners per class
