HAPPY "BIRD" DAY!

I can't wait to show you all these bird projects tonight on FACEBOOK LIVE AT FIVE!

Two Little Bluebirds

Two little bluebirds 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.

Paper Plate Birds and Nests 
Let children make birds or nests out of paper plates similar to the ones in the picture.

              What’s in the Egg? 
First, brainstorm all the different animals that come out of an egg. Now, you’re ready to make a flip book called “What’s in the Egg?” Fold a sheet of paper in half lengthwise, then fourths and eighths. Open and cut the crease to the middle fold. Fold in half to make 4 little flaps. Children draw eggs on the front of each flap. Open the flaps and challenge children to draw 4 different things that might come from an egg. When they hold this book up to the light, they will see their little critters inside the egg.
                                      

Baby Bird Story
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljOGhrSnJKWVVfekU/view?usp=sharing

It was spring time and mother and father bird decided to build a nest. Who can tell me some of the things they might have used to make their nest?
(Fold the paper in half and cut accordingly.)
Mother bird sat on the nest and laid a beautiful egg.  (Open the nest to reveal the egg shape.)
Now, mother bird could not leave the egg. She had to sit on it and keep it warm and safe. Even when it rained and the wind blew hard, mother bird had to sit there and protect her egg. Fortunately, two little bugs who lived in the tree made friends with mother bird and kept her company. This is one little bug. His name was _____. (Use a child’s name in the class.)
(Draw a little dot for the bug.)
This is the other little bug. Her name was _____, (Use another child’s name in the class.)
(Draw another little dot on the opposite side.)

One day as mother bird was sitting on the egg, she heard a little cracking sound. She looked down and saw a little crack in her egg.  (Cut a little slit on the fold slanted toward the eyes.)
Then she heard a great big cracking sound.  (Cut around the eye and slit as shown stopping before you get to the end of the egg.)

And guess what mother bird saw coming out of the big crack in her egg? She saw her baby bird!  (Open the egg and bend up the beak as shown.)


How To
As a writing activity ask children to write "how to build a nest."

DON'T WAKE UP THE BIRDIES!

Join me tomorrow night for LIVE AT FIVE ON FACEBOOK and I'll sing this silly song for you about birdies.  I've also got some great crafts, finger plays, stories, and "spring" things.

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.

Sing and Act 
Let children dramatize this song. Choose one child to be the mother or father bird. Let the other children be the baby birds.

Lunch Sack Nest 
Open a paper lunch sack and roll out and down until you reach the bottom and it looks like a nest. Children can roll play dough eggs for the nest, or they can make a paper bird for the nest or a little bird from two tissues.  (I'll demonstrate this on Monday.)
 

                                               
*Make the shape of a tree on a bulletin board. Staple the nests in the tree and then let children make birds out of construction paper to go in the nests.

*Staple on a pipe cleaner handle and you've got a little Easter basket.

You can get more "Birds" with this download that Carolyn Kisloski and I created.  It includes the song "Birdies," activities, lesson plans, writing prompts, crafts, and fun!

                                           

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Birds-and-Bird-Nests-1172522

"SPRING"ING WITH STANDARDS!

I hear spring calling, don’t you? Come out and play! Come out and learn! March 20th is the “official” first day of spring, so let’s get started! I'll be demonstrating these activities on LIVE AT FIVE this Monday.

Spring-O
Make a bingo card with signs of spring and objects that children can find on your playground. Children can walk around the playground and and color in the objects as they find them. Children could do this activity individually or with a partner.
                                          
*Here's a SPRING-O card I made for you. I'm not the best artist so you'll need to go over the words and the pictures with your students.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljZUxiN0dMUTdvdTQ/view?usp=sharing

Scavenger Hunt
Here’s a spring hunt for older students. Divide them into groups of 4 and give each group a clipboard with the items below. Have them record their answers. When you return to the classroom groups can share their results and compare answers.

     Spring Scavenger Hunt 

     Can you find a sign of spring? 

     Can you find something older than you? 

     Can you find something younger than you? 

     Can you find something rough? 

     Can you find something that feels soft? 

     Can you find something living? 

     Can you find something dead? 

     Can you find something smaller than your fingernail? 

     Can you find something bigger than you? 

     Can you find something green? 

     Can you find something yellow? 

     Can you find something that smells good? 

     Can you find some trash? Pick it up and throw it away! 


     

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljZFR1cHVzSlpBR3M/view?usp=sharing

Long and Short
Give children a piece of string or yarn.  Challenge them to walk around the playground and find objects that are "longer" than their string and "shorter" than their string.
                                                        
Spring Crown
Give child a sentence strip and invite them to draw signs of spring.  Let them collect small objects they find on the ground, such as leaves and flowers, and glue them to the crown.  Adjust to crowns to the children's heads and staple.
                                     
Spring Acrostic

After a spring walk, have children write the word spring vertically down the left side of their paper. Can they write a word (or sentence) for each letter that is a sign or symbol of spring? 


Hint! With younger children do this as an interactive writing activity.

Spring Poem
Have children fill in the words to create their own poem or a book.
                
     SPRING
     Spring looks like____.
     Spring smells like ____.
     Spring sounds like ____.
     Spring feels like ____.
     Spring tastes like ____.
     I like spring!

Web
Brainstorm spring vocabulary words and then encourage children to make a web using words or drawings.
                                                       
Spring Words

How many words can they write from the letters in “spring”?

Popcorn Tree
(Tune: “Turkey in the Straw”)
I looked out my window (Hand over eyes.)
And what did I see?
Popcorn popping on my cherry tree. (Hands on hips.)
What a surprise spring left for me.
Popcorn popping in my cherry tree.
Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. (Wiggle hips to the beat.)
Pop! Pop! (Jump up twice.)

Sing faster…faster…super fast!

                                
Trace around the child’s hand and arm on a sheet of paper to resemble a tree trunk. Color or paint the tree. Glue popcorn or cotton balls on the branches to look like blossoms.
Hint! If you shake popcorn in a sack with a little dry red tempera it will look like pink blossoms.

FIDDLY FIDGETY FINGERS

There are some children who just can’t keep their fingers still. You try finger plays, cheers, and all the tricks you can, but those fingers just keep on moving. Here are a few ideas that might be an outlet for those frisky fingers.

Brain Toys (pre-K and K)
Fill a shoebox or basket with stress balls, sponge balls, knotted socks, etc. Suggest children get a “brain toy” when they can’t keep their hands to themselves.
                           

Fiddle Stick (primary grades)
Wrap a 20” piece of string around a jumbo craft sticks. Children keep these in their desk and get them out when their hands need to fiddle.

Fidget Cube
At my workshop in Atlanta a teacher showed me a new gadget that might be the miracle you are looking for. The fidget cube is a toy with different things that move, such as a toggle switch, clicking button, gears, etc. Apparently, they are helpful for adults and children with ADHD. I found several online and they vary in price from $1.00 on up.

                                             

TOP OF THE MORNING TO YOU!

I don't have a pot of gold for you, but here’s a little leprechaun’s magic wand to make tomorrow. Take a square sheet of paper and color on all four sides as shown. Turn over and start at one corner and roll up tightly. Tape the end. Taaa daaa! 

                              

                                                              

*Students can use the wand to read the room. One student points to a word (letter, color, shape) while a friend reads.

*Students can track print in big books and on charts with the wand.

*You can do invisible writing in the air with the wand.

*Use the wand as a springboard for stories about what they would do if they were a leprechaun with a magic wand.

*When you want the class to be quiet wave the wand in a circle and say, “Abracadabra.” Tell the children that when they feel the magic they will be quiet and listen to you.  If a child isn't listening wave the wand over their head and say, "Here's a little more magic for you!"

WIGGLE WORMS

Have your kids got a bad case of the “wiggle worms” this time of year? Here’s a simple song that will leave you giggling instead of wiggling!
     
My Aunt Came Back
(Tune: “How Dry I Am!”)
My aunt came back (children repeat each line)
From old Japan
And brought me back
A paper fan. (Hold up your right hand and wave it back and forth like a fan.
                         You will continue doing this through the rest of the song.)

My aunt came back
From Holland, too,
And brought me back
A wooden shoe. (Begin tapping your left foot as you fan.)

My aunt came back
From Algiers
And brought me back
A pair of shears. (Hold up left hand and open and close index and middle
                              fingers like a pair of scissors as you tap and fan.)

My aunt came back
From Belgium
And brought me back
Some bubblegum. (Start smacking your lips as if chewing gum as you make 

                           other movements.) 

My aunt came back
From Chile
And brought me back
An itchy flea. (Wiggle all over as you make above movements.)

My aunt came back
From the city zoo
And brought me back
Some nuts like you! (Point your finger at everyone!)

Wiggle Worm Game – Make flash cards more fun by adding a few joke cards that say “wiggle worms.” When that card comes up, children stand and wiggle, wiggle!
                                           


Wall Push Ups 


While children are waiting and standing in line in the hall get rid of wiggles by challenging  them to do push ups against the wall.

Ready for Writing Rap (Traci Wade) 


Get rid of wiggles and prompt children for writing with this chant:

     1, 2…sit up, please do. 


     3, 4…feet flat on the floor. 

     
5, 6…push your chair in quick. 
7, 8…lay your paper straight. 


     9,10…write neatly then.

OLD PHOTO ALBUM

I was looking through old photos and I found several pictures that are worth a “thousand words.”

Song Balloons (Kathleen Salazar) 

Cut paper balloons out of construction paper and write the names of songs on the balloons. Spread them out at circle time and let children take turns picking a “balloon” for the class to sing. 

                                
*Write the names of songs on strips of paper and place them in plastic eggs. Children pick an egg and then open it to see what song they will sing. 



Snowman
Fill a heavy-duty gallon zip bag with shaving cream. Cut a carrot out of orange fun foam and put it in the bag. Squeeze out the excess air and seal. Glue felt eyes and a mouth to the front of the bag as shown. Children squish the bag to make a snowman.
                                                           

Hint! Notice the eggs taped to plastic spoons. The eggs have dried beans inside and make a perfect maraca.

Stickies
Purchase vinyl stickies at the dollar store. Let children arrange them on pizza pans (also from the dollar store).
                 
Where Is Square? 

Use the tune from “Where Is Thumbkin?” to reinforce colors, shapes, numerals, letters, etc. For example, children could each have a set of cards with the shapes (colors, words, letters, etc.) drawn on them. Store these in zip sandwich bags or lunch bags. Ask them to hold up the appropriate shape as you song:
                                               
             
Occupation in a Bag (Megan Pope) 

When studying community helpers, send home a paper bag with each student. Ask them to put in items that explain what their parents do. This is great for parents who are too busy to come in and speak about their job.