About This Lesson
This Teacher’s Guide is designed to accompany Tiny Tern Takes Flight, a lyrical and beautifully illustrated book that follows one small bird on an epic global migration. Through interactive, standards-aligned activities, students will explore the science behind the Arctic Tern’s journey—from adaptations and survival strategies to geography and environmental change.
The guide supports early elementary learners in developing observation, mapping, writing, and critical thinking skills. Activities invite students to move like a migrating bird, draw and label anatomical features, write from the tern’s perspective, and reflect on the reasons animals (and people) migrate. Whether flying through stormy skies or caring for chicks on remote islands, students will gain a deeper understanding of how living things adapt to survive in diverse habitats.
This guide helps educators extend the story beyond the page, sparking curiosity about the natural world and encouraging students to wonder: What does it take to make such an extraordinary journey?
