How to draw a peacock, an ostrich and a blue jay...

       Draw three interesting birds: the peacock, the ostrich and the blue jay, using simple shapes. Step-by-step illustrations are shown below so that young students may discover just how simple it is the accomplish these drawing exercises.

       When you first look at a Peacock you might think he would be difficult to draw. But if you just break down his body into simple shapes starting with an oval, drawing becomes simple. Add a head, then his feet, next his wings and last his beautiful tail.

       Start with a circle to draw the ostrich. Some say that if he can't see you, he thinks that you can't see him. He is the largest bird in the world and can't even fly! But how he can run and kick with those giant long legs of his!

 

       The blue jay is a member of the Crow family, he is not such a plunderer as the Crow. In fact, he does a great deal of good by eating many insects that feed on the foliage of trees. He has a bad habit of being meddlesome. This makes him very unpopular in bird society and when he approaches a tree, the other birds fly away.

Nature Inspired Field Trips

      Although our preschool has not scheduled a visit to Powder Valley, I thought some of our parents may be interested in visiting this local nature center with their kiddos on weekends.
       Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood, MO., is a wonderful place to take preschool/kindergarten students to learn about God's world. They have both family and classroom-size self guided tours and classes. Classes specifically designed for Preschool through Kindergarten at the center fill up quickly, call ahead for a reservation at 314-301-1500. 

      Teachers may wish to design their own lessons and tours; I recommend you visit ahead of time to plan what you will do. There are also trails designated especially for little people and outdoor facilities to meet in if you prefer these to indoor classrooms. 

      There are many interactive displays, a puppet theater, aquariums and even a giant tree house!

Nature Inspired Art and Activities For Early Learners:

• Nature Bracelets
• Acorn Jewlery by 5 Orange Potatoes
• Bugs made from seed pods
• How to make your own grass heads
• Nature-Inspired Crafts for Kids
• Make Bird Seed Shapes from Cookie Cutters
• Earth Day Sign
• Make A Bird Feeder From A Pumpkin
• Craft a paper robin toy for Spring
• Frogs, Toads and Pollywogs for Spring
• Craft a birch bark birdfeeder
• Dangling nut head people
• How to safely string pumpkin seeds etc...

More Related Links:

• Missouri Department of Conservation
• Powder Valley Nature Center

Learning to Draw Birds

In drawing, all objects should be studied under the general heads of:

• The Copy, or Imitation.
• The Object, or Observation.
• The Memory and Imagination.

       In general, these three divisions should go hand in hand, each helping to explain and make clear the others. But if an order is followed in the study of birds, the best one for young pupils is as follows: (1) The copy; (2) memory and imagination; (3) the object.
       This order, however, is not intended to be arbitrary. If the object is something that can be leisurely studied, like a leaf, or a flower, then an order similar to this should be followed: (1) The object; (2) the copy; (3) memory and imagination.
       The principle of the construction of all birds is, in general, the same ; the difference is in the proportion and minor details. By learning the proportions and general features from pictures and drawings, much time will be saved, and the work made more effective and less discouraging than if the study is attempted from the living bird alone. This does not mean to blindly copy the drawings of others, but to study them intelligently, to study them with a view of learning their form and proportion and the general principle of bird construction. To learn such points  the following: The size of the head as compared with the body; the movement of the tail, head and body; how the feet are placed under the body to give perfect balance; how the wings rest on the body, and their movements when flying. All of these can be studied from drawings coupled with observation, and then verified on the real bird, much better than from the real bird alone. It is doubtful if one untrained in drawing can make very much headway learning to draw from such a restless bit of animation as a live bird, with its multiplicity of markings and numberless details. One must have both knowledge of the bird and skill in drawing to do this.

• Balance
• Character
• Divisions of Study
• General Directions
• Drill Exercises

       Here is a simple sketch of how to draw a bird. Memorize how to draw birds from these instructions and soon little birds will be dancing across your notebook in no time.

More Related Content:

• Steps for Drawing: A Pelican
• Drawing birds from John Muir Laws
• How to draw a bird from easy-drawings-and-sketches.com