Some
of you have probably made this nest from a paper bag with me at my
workshops. All you have to do is
open the bag and then slowly roll out and down to create the nest. Recently, a teacher added to that by
telling me about the tissue birds she makes with her class. Wad up one tissue and wrap another
tissue around it. Tie a string to
make the head and fluff up the rest to be the body and wings. (An adult will need to do this part.) Children can add eyes with a marker and
glue on a beak. The teacher said
it’s so cute to see the children put the bird in the nest and carry it gently
as if it were real.
*Good
time to introduce vocabulary words like “fragile” and “delicate.”
*How
about informative writing? How to
build a nest.
*Creative
thinking - What would you do if you were a bird?
Two
little blackbirds sitting on a hill. (Stick
up both thumbs.)
One
named Jack (Wiggle
right thumb.)
And
one named Jill. (Wiggle
left thumb.)
Fly
away Jack. (Put
right thumb behind back.)
Fly
away Jill (Put
left thumb behind back.)
Come
back Jack. (Bring
back right thumb.)
Come
back Jill. (Bring
back left thumb.)
Opposite
variations:
One
named Happy and one named Sad…
(Say happy and then sad.)
One
named Loud and one named Soft…
(Say loud and then soft.)
One
named Fast and one named Slow… (Move one fast and one slow.)
Continue
letting children think of names and motions for the birds.
One
more little bird day project that’s made with felt, glue, and a wiggly eye.
Cut
out two bird bodies similar to the one shown. Cut out the wings on the fold. Glue around the edges leaving a 2” opening in the bottom
where you can insert your finger.
Cut a 2” slot in the top and insert the wings. Add a beak, eyes, and you’re ready to fly.
*Call
it “Word Bird” and let children wear it to read words.
*Use
it to track from left to write as you read chorally or count on the calendar.
*Play
the “quiet game” with word bird. One
child wears the bird and says:
Blue
bird, blue bird, how quiet can you be?
(Insert whatever color.)
Fly
to a quiet friend, one, two, three.
The
child passes the bird to a quiet friend who comes to the front of the room and
the game continues.