Materials
String cut in various lengths Yarn cut in pieces
Dried grasses (available at craft or florist shops) Raffia cut in pieces
Cardboard
Instructions
1. Beforehand, hide the materials listed above in various places either inside or outside on the playground. Go on a bird nest hunt with the children so there will be a real one in the classroom that they can examine.
2. Talk about nests as homes for birds.
3. Explain to the children how the bird builds its nest one stick, piece of paper, scrap of yarn at a time and that birds have to hunt to find the materials they need.
4. Back in the classroom, tell the children it is their turn to build a nest and that everything they need is hiding somewhere in the classroom (or yard).
5. Allow the children to create bird nests with the materials they find.
6. Challenge older children to construct a nest like the birds do, one piece of material at a time, so that they have to fly back and forth repeatedly, gathering materials.More to doGames: Use pictures of birds for matching games.More science: Play a tape of real bird songs for the children. * Visit a local aviary or a wellstocked bird-oriented pet store. * Use binoculars to watch birds as they fly and work on their nests. * Talk about other animals and where they live. Also talk about birds that do not live in nests. * Collect a variety of pictures of birds and other animals. Have the children sort the pictures into two categories: birds and not birds.Music and movement: Do creative movement exercises in which the children fly to music.Original poemA twig, some grass, a piece of string,A bird's nest built up in a tree.Wait awhile, the eggs will hatch.And there will be babies to see!Birds fly high, up in the sky.Graceful wings in flight.They search for food and things to eat,And return to their nest at night.
