Project Pigeon Pal! Facts and Activities to Instill Respect and Appreciation for Pigeons

Anyone who’s ever been to a park—or a parking lot—has likely seen pigeons, probably in large numbers. But how much do you know about these feathered friends? Maybe not much, and it’s probably safe to assume the same of your students. Both adults and children are less likely to appreciate animals they don’t understand, which can lead to fear, dislike, or a lack of empathy or concern for them. You can help students learn to love pigeons with this fact sheet and craft! With a better understanding of animals and their behavior, it’s easier to develop respect and appreciation for them as the unique individuals they are.

Did you know pigeons flock in large numbers to protect themselves from danger? Or that they can travel up to 500 miles in one day and can recognize themselves in puddles? Share these fun facts (and more) with your students, and ask them to talk about their favorites with the class. Not sure where to include this type of activity in your curriculum? You can use it as a language arts extension activity after reading How to Heal a Broken Wingby Bob Graham, as part of a unit on animal coverings, or anywhere else in your curriculum that could use an empathy-building activity. This fact sheet also has follow-up questions to encourage further thought and discussion, and it pairs well with the additional activities included in TeachKind’s “Be a Pal to Pigeons” activity bundle, PETA Kids’ “Did You Know? All About Pigeons!” video, and the PETA Kids Pidgey plush. Once children have learned all about pigeons, they can have fun making their own pigeon pal out of paper!

You can have your students color, cut out, and assemble their pigeon pals to “perch” on the accompanying background and then give them names. Then students can write about how they can help pigeons, an activity that will encourage them to think about these birds as living, feeling individuals who deserve respect and protection. In a world where kids can be anything, let’s teach them to be kind and respectful to all.