We see and hear birds everywhere! We also enjoy a sight of intricately build nests and occasional chicks. We actually raised two years in a row a family of house finches, each time hatching four baby chicks.
So, inspired by all the sights of bird nests, today, we are learning more about this amazing skill of nest building by reading Nature Anatomy book and setting up this invitation to build a nest using 🌿🌾nature finds we collected during our nature walks and 🏡 homemade chocolate 🍫 rosemary play dough. (See the recipe link below.)
Julia and Adrian were invited to choose one bird, research what material that bird is using for nest-building and bring it to life. But first, they had to go and collect the necessary items. (We are using these birds to make this study more hands-on.)
We take nature or "listening walks" at least once a day, and Adrian always finds a little flower, leaves or twigs that catch his attention. Today though, Adrian had a mission ~ he was a Blue Bird, on a search for materials for his nest.
We learned that Blue Bird would use grass, twigs, and cotton or wool to build its nest.
The nest in the middle is actually a real nest built by a house finch which she abandoned before laying any eggs. We decorated it with some eggs and flowers.
To learn more about birds children had chosen, we read National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America (buy here), and (top-left) Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds: Eastern Region (buy here).
There was a lot of weaving and twig layering and the making of a "fluffy bed" for the chicks. And, finally, Adrian's Blue Bird nest is ready (on the right)!
For more on Birds, read our "Books and Materials" here and our entire Bird Unit study here
To find out our play dough recipe, see here No-Cook Homemade 🌈 Play Dough Recipe
"P" is for playdough ~ see here Letter P • 🔠Letter Series • Letter Hunt
For more Spring Inspired activities, see here 🌸Spring Inspired Themed Unit Study.
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