One of my favorite authors to introduce children to the wonders of nature study is Thornton W. Burgess. In this ongoing Charlotte Mason inspired class, we will use "The Burgess Bird Book for Children" by Thornton W. Burgess to explore the world of birds. While some animals appear in multiple chapters, the chapters mostly stand alone. Learners are welcome to join the class at any time.

Each class will follow a similar schedule: 
1. I will welcome students and introduce the day's topic.
2. I will share my screen to show a photograph of one (or more) bird(s) mentioned in the day's chapter. Learners will observe the bird and draw the bird in their nature journals. While students are drawing, I will read a chapter from the Burgess Bird Book. I will pause throughout the chapter to ask different learners to narrate*. 
3. After we finish the chapter, I will invite all learners to share the picture that they drew.
4. I will share interesting facts about the bird(s) we read about and an audio recording of the bird's call. 
5. If there is time at the end of class, I will invite learners to share other things they have observed in nature recently. 
6. AFTER CLASS, I will upload a printable copywork page to our class page. Each copywork page will include a quote from the week's chapter.

*What is narration? 
Narration is something we do each day (perhaps even without realizing it!). Narration is telling back what you heard. Children often come in from outdoors and narrate their adventures and what insects or other creatures they have just seen. In our classes, learners will tell what they remember from the story. When needed, I will model narration for learners. 

Is this class right for my child? 
The recommended age for this class is 6-9 years old. "The Burgess Bird Book for Children" is recommended reading for some 1st grade curriculums. However, some 1st grade learners may not be ready for a longer story. This class is designed for learners that are ready to draw a picture, listen to a story, and participate in a group lesson. You can view the book at Project Gutenberg at https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3074/pg3074-images.html. 

If you have any questions or do not see a class time that fits your schedule, please contact me. I look forward to seeing you in class! 

CLASS SCHEDULE - I have adjusted our schedule to read the entire book during the school year (about 40 weeks). The chapters are not very long, so I will be combining some of the chapters. The chapter is listed on the date that we started reading the chapter. It will sometimes be finished the following week.

Class Schedule 2024-2025
September 3 
Chapter 1 - Jenny Wren Arrives (House Wren and English Sparrow)
Chapter 2 - The Old Orchard Bully (House/English Sparrow) 

September 10  
Chapters 3 - Jenny Has a Good Word for Some Sparrow (The Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and Fox Sparrow)

Week of September 17 - NO CLASS
Week of September 24 - NO CLASS

October 1 
Chapter 4 - Chippy, Sweetvoice, and Dotty (Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Tree Sparrow)
Chapter 5 - Peter Learns Something He Hadn't Guessed (Eastern Bluebird, American Robin)

October 8
Chapter 6 - An Old Friend in a New Home (Eastern Phoebe, Least Flycatcher)

October 15
Chapter 7 - The Watchman of the Old Orchard (Eastern Kingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher)
Chapter 8 - Old Clothes and Old Houses (Wood pewee)

October 22
Chapter 9 - Longbill and Teeter (American Woodcock and Spotted Sandpiper)

October 29
Chapter 10 - Redwing and Yellow Wing (Redwing Blackbird and Golden-Winged (Northern) Flicker)

November 5
Chapter 11 - Drummers and Carpenters (Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker)
Chapter 12 - Some Unlikely Relatives (Cowbird and Baltimore Oriole)

November 12
Chapter 13 - More of the Blackbird Family (Orchard Oriole and Bobolink)

November 19
Chapter 14 - Bob White and Carol the Meadow Lark (Bobwhite and Meadowlark)

November 26
Chapter 15 - A Swallow and One Who Isn't (Tree Swallow and Chimney Swift)

December 3
Chapter 16 - A Robber in the Old Orchard (Purple Martin and Barn Swallow)
Chapter 17 - More Robbers (Crow and Blue Jay)

December 10
Chapter 18 - Chapter 18 - Some Homes in the Green Forest (Ovenbird and Red-tail Hawk)

December 17
Chapters 19 - A Maker of Thunder and a Friend in Black (Ruffed Grouse and Grackle)

December 24 - NO CLASS
December 31 - NO CLASS

January 7
Chapter 20 - A Fisherman Robbed (Osprey and Bald Eagle)

January 14
Chapter 21 - A Fishing Party (Great Blue Heron and Kingfisher) 
Chapter 22 - Some Feathered Diggers (Bank Swallow and Sparrow Hawk) 

January 21
Chapter 23 - Some Big Mouths (Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will, and Chuck-wills widow) 

January 28
Chapter 24 - The Warblers Arrive (Redstart and Yellow Warbler) 

February 4
Chapter 25 - Three Cousins Quite Unlike (Black and White Warbler, Maryland Yellow-throat, and Yellow-breasted Chat) 

February 11
Chapter 26 - Peter Gets a Lame Neck (Parula, Myrtle Warblers, and Magnolia Warbler) 
Chapter 27 - A New Friend and an Old One (Cardinal and Catbird) 

February 18
Chapter 28 - Peter Sees Rosebreast and Finds Redcoat (Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Scarlet Tanager) 

February 25
Chapter 29 - The Constant Singers (Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, and Yellow-throated Vireo) 

March 4
Chapter 30 - Jenny Wren's Cousins (Brown Thrasher and Mockingbird) 

March 11
Chapter 31 - Voices of the Dusk (Wood Thrush, Hermit Thrush, and Wilson's Thrush)  
Chapter 32 - Peter Saves a Friend and Learns Something (Towhee and Indigo Bunting) 

March 18
Chapter 33 - A Royal Dresser and a Late Nester (Purple Linnet and Goldfinch) 

March 25
Chapter 34 - Mourner the Dove and Cuckoo (Mourning Dove and Yellow-billed Cuckoo) 

April 1
Chapter 35 - A Butcher and a Hummer (Shrike and Ruby-throated Hummingbird)

April 8
Chapter 36 - A Stranger and a Dandy (English Starling and Cedar Waxwing) 
Chapter 37 - Farewells and Welcomes (Chickadee)

April 15
Chapter 38 - Honker and Dippy Arrive (Canada Goose and Loon) 

April 22 - NO CLASS

April 29
Chapter 39 - Peter Discovers Two Old Friends (White-breasted Nuthatch and Brown Creeper) 

May 6
Chapter 40 - Some Merry Seed-Eaters (Tree Sparrow and Junco) 

May 13
Chapter 41 - More Friends Come With the Snow (Snow Bunting and Horned Lark) 
Chapter 42 - Peter Learns Something About Spooky (Screech Owl) 

May 20
Chapter 43 - Queer Feet and a Queerer Bill (Ruffed Grouse and Crossbill) 

May 27
Chapter 44 - More Folks in Red (Pine Grosbeak and Redpoll)
Chapter 45 - Peter Sees Two Terrible Feathered Hunters (Goshawk and Great Horned Owl)