Library April 14-18: Backyard Birding! 

DAY 1
Have you noticed the songbirds lately? It seems like I hear beautiful chirping every day! 
  1. Start with breathing exercises and your fiction song!
  2. Watch Mrs. Echols' virtual storytime. 
  3. Discuss: 
    1. Where did this story take place? What parts of nature did you see? (canyon, rocks, river, sky, trees, animals, etc)
    2. What kind of animals did the wren meet?  (kingfisher, eagle, ringtail cat, fish)
    3. What was the wren's gift? (singing!)
    4. What are some gifts you have? What are gifts that you can recognize in your family? (this a great moment to use those Nurtured Heart Emotionally Nutritious Words!)
  4. Listen to real wrens singing in the linked videos! I couldn't resist posting both. 
  5. Visit the Travis Audubon society to learn about backyard birds in Central Texas. Have you seen any of these birds outside your home? I know I've seen  White-Winged Doves, Blue Jays and an Eastern Screech Owl family in the creek and trees outside my home. Also, the Travis Audubon Society's Guide to Basic Backyard Birding is EXCELLENT.
  6. Read more about birds in Epic! I added some to my top picks for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten collections. If you don't have Epic! yet, just e-mail Mrs. Echols! It's free and gives your child access to 40,000+ eBooks!
  7. Want to attract more birds? Consider making a bird feeder out of these found items you're likely to have around your house.
  8. Here's a link to 20 Easy Bird Feeder tutorials.
  9. If you don't have bird seed, check out this recipe! Or get it with curbside pick up from Lowes!  Also, if you don't have peanut butter, you can sub any other kind of nut butter or this easy recipe for edible glue. ​

DAY 2

Picture
The Travis Audubon society has wonderful pictures and information about permanent backyard residents like this Eastern Screech Owl!
  1. Start with breathing exercises and your fiction song!
  2. Watch Mrs. Echols' virtual storytime. 
  3. Discuss:
    1. How does little bird start and end his day? (with a song)
    2. Who or what disturbed little bird in the puddle? (a ball, a dog, a kid)
    3. What happened to the puddle each time little bird was disturbed?  (it got smaller!)
    4. What did little bird find to bathe in after the puddle? (a fountain)
  4. Build your birdfeeder if you haven't!
  5. Learn to draw a bird or an owl with these simple guides!