HAPPY "BIRD" DAY!

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
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.

                                             
Bird Puppet
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.

Birdies  (Happy Everything CD)
Way up in the sky (Put hands in arm pits and flap arms
The big birdies fly. like a bird.)
Way down in the nest (Make a nest by cupping hands.)
The little birds rest.
With a wing on the left, (Wiggle left arm like a wing.)
And a wing on the right, (Wiggle right arm like a wing.)
The little birds sleep (Put head down on palms as if sleeping.)
All through the night.
SHHHHHH! (Put finger over lips.)
DON’T WAKE UP THE BIRDIES!
Then up comes the sun. (Put arms over your head.)
The dew falls away. (Bring down palms.)
Good morning! Good morning! (Put open palms around your head.)
The little birds say.
*This is the perfect song to demonstrate the exclamation point and talk about exaggeration!