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FEATHER
ART
| Set out feathers (from a craft store or
a feather duster). Give your children large bird shapes
cut out of construction paper and invite them to try one
of the activities below. |
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Decorate the bird shapes by gluing on the feathers. |
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Dip the feathers into paint and brush designs on the
bird shapes.
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Draw designs on the shapes with paint, using the stiff
points of the feathers like pens.
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BIRD
NESTS
Give your children small paper bowls or margarine tubs.
Set out items such as dried grass, twigs, leaves, string,
and small feathers. Show the children how to mix the items
with clay or thick mud to make nests in their bowls or
tubs. When they have finished, let them add such items
as white pebbles or pompoms for eggs. |
EGGS IN NESTS
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Make five nests by rolling down the
tops of five brown grocery bags and filling the bags
with shredded brown paper. Number the nests from 1 to
5. Set out 15 plastic eggs. Then invite your children
to take turns reading the numerals on the nests and
filling them with matching numbers of eggs.
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| BIRDSEED
FUN |
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Identifying Colors:
Place birdseed in small bowls for your children to examine
with magnifying glasses. How many different colors can
they see? |
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Making Counters: Use
a squeeze bottle of glue to draw individual numerals on
4-by-5-inch squares of construction paper. While the glue
is still wet, help your children sprinkle the numerals
with birdseed and tap off the excess. |
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Pouring and Measuring:
Place some birdseed in a large tub. Give your children
a set of plastic measuring cups to use for pouring and
measuring experiments. |
BIRD NEST MATERIALS
In spring, birds search for items to use in building their nests,
such as short pieces of yarn and string, dried grasses, and
balls of hair shed by pets. Let your children help the birds
make their nests with these activities.
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Place items such as those above in a mesh vegetable
bag and pull the ends of the materials out through the
holes. Hang the bag on a branch outdoors for the birds
to discover. |
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Lightly weave short pieces of yarn or string around
the outsides of pinecones. Twist chenille-stem loops onto
the pinecones and hang them on outdoor branches. |
CARDBOARD
TUBE BIRD FEEDERS
For each of your children, stand a short cardboard tube
upright. Punch two holes in the tube across from each
other near the top. Help the children cover their tubes
with creamy peanut butter and roll the tubes in birdseed.
Then thread a chenille stem through the holes in each
tube to make a loop for hanging on a tree branch. |
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ROBINS & CROWS
Tune: "Frere Jacques"
Here come robins, here come robins,
Here come crows, here come crows.
See them fly around,
Landing on the ground.
Then, off they go!
Robins and crows!
Let your children pretend to be birds and act out the song as
you sing.
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BIRD
SNACKS
Try one of these ideas at snacktime.
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Birds on a Branch: Stuff celery pieces with peanut
butter to make branches. Let your children top the peanut
butter with raisins or fruit bits for birds. |
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Bird Nests: Make nests in small bowls using grated
carrot mixed with mayonnaise. For eggs, add grapes or
peas. |
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