BIRDS




Circle Birds

Give each child a 4 1/2-inch circle and a 2 1/2-inch circle cut out of light blue construction paper. Have the children glue their circles on pieces of dark blue construction paper, using the large cirles for bodies and the small circles for heads. Then let them decorate their circle birds with felt-tip markers and feathers.




Feather Painting

Set out tempera paint, feathers, and pieces of construction paper. Let the children experiment with using the feathers as paint brushes. Encourage them to make as many different patterns and lines as they can with their feathers.




Five Little Bluebirds

Cut five bluebird shapes out of felt. As you recite the poem below, place the bird shapes on a flannelboard.


Five little bluebirds waiting for spring -

The first little bluebird began to sing.

The second little bluebird flapped its wings.

The third little bluebird said,

"Tweet, tweet, tweet."

The fourth little bluebird sang so sweet.

The fifth little bluebird said,

"It's a beautiful day."

Then all five bluebirds flew away.




Winter Treats

Help the children make these winter treats for birds.

Orange or Grapefruit Cup-Punch four holes near the top of an empty orange or grapefruit rind. Attach it to a tree limb with string. Fill the rind with seeds or nuts.

Bread Ornament-Cut a slice of stale bread into a circle or other shape with a cookie cutter. Mix food coloring with hardened fat and spread it on both sides of the bread. Make a hole near the top of the shape and tie it to a tree limb with string.

Suet Bag-Cut a 6-inch square of net from a potato or onion bag. Mix suet with birdseed and place a large spoonful of the mixture in the center of the netting. Bring the corners of the square together and tie with a string. Then fasten the suet bag to a tree branch.




Birds' Nests

Give the children small paper sacks. Then take the children on a walk and let them collect items that a bird might use to make a nest, such as twigs, leaves, grass, and pieces of string. After the walk, have the children fold down the sides of their bags to form "nests". Have them set their bags outside so that the birds can use the contents for nest building.




What Am I?

Sung to : "This Old Man"


I am bright, I am red,

I have a crest upon my head.

If you can guess me,

Hurry up and try,

Before I fly into the sky!

(What am I?...Cardinal)


I am big, I am blue,

I love oaks and acorns, too.

I you can guess me,

Hurry up and try,

Before I fly into the sky!

(What am I?...Bluejay)


I am small, with a black head,

I come in winter to be fed.

If you can guess me,

Hurry up and try,

Before I fly into the sky!

(What am I?...Chickadee)


I am tiny, I am fast,

Not many people see me pass.

If you can guess me,

Hurry up and try,

Before I fly into the sky!

(What am I?...Hummingbird)


I am big, I am proud,

I'm the bird of our great land.

If you can guess me,

Hurry up and try,

Before I fly into the sky!

(What am I?...Bald Eagle)


I am old, I am wise,

I like to hunt before sunrise.

If you can guess me,

Hurry up and try,

Before I fly into the sky!

(What am I?...Owl)


I eat bugs, I eat bees,

I live in holes and peck on trees.

If you can guess me,

Hurry up and try,

Before I fly into the sky!

(What am I?...Woodpecker)


I am brown, with a red breast,

I come first in spring to nest.

If you can guess me,

Hurry up and try,

Before I fly into the sky!

(What am I?...Robin)




Nest Game

From construction paper, cut out five nest shapes, five bird shapes, and fifteen egg shapes. Glue from one to five eggs inside each nest. Number the birds form 1 to 5. To play the game, have the children help the mother birds find their nest by matching the number of eggs in a nest to the bird with that number written on it.




Birds Nest Salads

Cut carrots in half and let the children help grate them. For each serving, mix together one half of a grated carrot and 1/4 cup chow mein noodles. Stir in mayonnaise to moisten. Place the mixture on a plate and push the back of a spoon down into the middle to form a "nest". Let the children place grapes or peas into their nests for "eggs". If desired, serve the nests on top of lettue leaves.


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Visitors since July 4, 1998