Birds ~ Birds ~ Birds

I am very fortunate to be a part of a fabulous home school gathering that takes place on a monthly basis. It is wonderful space to  have the opportunity for our children to learn, play and create together. I also value it as a much needed parental support network ~ to share our challenges, questions, inspirations and joys. The parents involved take turns teaching the different age groups and last week I (along with my sister) taught a lesson on birds to the preschoolers ~ what fun!

We started with a circle and opening up a discussion about birds...cute to hear the kids share their knowledge and stories. We followed that with a few books ~

We then enjoyed this action rhyme  

Once I saw a little bird

Come hop, hop, hop.

And I cried, "Little bird,

Will you stop, stop, stop?"

I was going to the window

To say, "How do you do?"

When he shook his little tail

And away he flew.

Here was the craft we did

We choose the Robin as our feature bird, in honor of the spring sightings of robins in our back yards.

supplies needed

toliet paper roll
brown feathers
red feather(s)
glue
brown lunch paper bag
leaves, grasses, twigs
flour
salt
blue food coloring

First we created the birds....
we followed this template
HERE!
Then after it was all cut out we added the feathers (brown for the wings, tail and body and  red for the belly)
mama was ready!

next we made our nests..
We took our brown paper bags and crumpled them, rolled down the top to fairly near the bottom and then rounded it out ~ next we glued leaves and twigs all around the outside and then filled our nest with the grasses.

Finally we molded our robin’s eggs.  I followed this basic clay recipe.


BAKER'S CLAY


Mix together:

• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cup water

Knead until smooth. Add food coloring if desired.  (we of course added blue) Make shapes and bake at 300 degrees until set and golden (1/2 hr to 1 hr). Seal with shellac, or for a more golden appearance, paint with a beaten egg.

We placed the mama bird and her eggs in the nest and ~ voila!

It was fun to create and the outcome was a lovely spring center peice for the home.

 ~ Shanti ~