May is finally upon us! Wow how the time does fly, it feels like just last we were enjoying the fresh snow of January or the autumn leaves of October. Today to welcome spring we looked at bird nests, another spring arrival. We worked together to identify what birds made the 5 nests we had presented to us using a nest guide. We had to determine what nest was made by the Ruby throated hummingbird, Tree Swallow, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, and the Oriole. All the nests looked so different and were made using different materials like sticks, mud, lichen, feather, plant fiber, and so much more! After we identified the nests, we then made our own bird nests in the woods. It was interesting to see that no everyone made a nest on a tree branch, but some were on the ground or using a cavity of the tree.
Last week we learned that the best time to day to do something bird related for us would be the morning, so our first activity was focusing on bird songs. We reviewed and played a bird song game to familiarize ourselves with some of the common birds we would probably be hearing on our walk. Then, we discussed the importance of walking slowly and quietly in order to hear the birds fully. It was stressed that the expectation was not to know what every call was, but to be listening and point out a bird call and if you knew was it was, to share it. We heard Red-winged Blackbirds, Robins, Cardinals, Tree Swallows, Common Yellow-throats, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Eastern Phoebes, Blue jays, Crows, and so much more!
After our bird song walk, we spent time exploring the wonderful world of Beaver Pond. Right away newts we being carefully caught and brought to the looky-no-touchy bin. We caught so many newts, tadpoles, minnows, water striders, a crawfish, and even a tiny painted turtle! It was amazing seeing the teamwork and the careful care the students were using to catch these animals. Everyone worked together to identify every creature that we caught too!
After lunch and a field game we made the choice together to not go to the brook, but instead start working on shelters. We discussed the purpose of a shelter, what makes a good shelter, and where you should build a shelter. Shelters are made to protect us from the elements (rain, snow, wind, heat, etc.) and keep us safe. A shelter is meant to have full coverage for us in order to do this. Working together as a whole team we started the task of building a shelter. Some students were stick collectors, others stick places, some folks' broke sticks, and other put leaves on the shelter to have more protection.
We ended our time together reflecting in our journals about the day we just shared, and of course shared our favorite parts of the day at closing circle.
With only 2 weeks left, I can’t wait to see what other fun we create together.
