National Writing Day Activities: Year 4 Writing Activities
Widowbird
Widowbirds live in bush clearings and grasslands in eastern and southern Africa. When breeding, male widowbirds have very long tails, but when they are not breeding, they lose their long tails. Still, all year long, they have red and white badges on their wings. Females widowbirds, however, are brown and streaky, and do not have the male’s famous red and white marks.
In this clip, we will see two male widowbirds competing to attract a potential mate with their impressive jumping skills.
Writing Activity
✍️ Imagine you are a widowbird. You have just won the widowbirds’ Olympic gold medal for being the highest jumper – it’s an incredible achievement!
Write a winner’s acceptance speech for when you receive your medal.
You could include the following details:
- Thank your supporters who have always believed in you
- Talk about your training (What have you done to prepare for the event?)
- How did you feel before, during and after the event?
- What words of wisdom do you have for other widowbirds who would like to follow in your footsteps?
Take it Further!
📖 Research and report on the top-performing animals in the following athletic categories:
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Longest jumper – Which animal can jump the furthest (relative to its size or overall)?
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Strongest carrier – Which animal can carry the heaviest load?
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Fastest mover – Which animal is the fastest (on land, in water or in the air)?
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Highest flyer – Which animal can fly at the highest altitude?
