My kids are huge bird fans and have greatly enjoyed our Birds and Eggs Unit with Mother Goose Time.

We have particularly enjoyed the invitations to create that encourage the use of a variety of materials to make original “bird and egg inspired” artwork.

I love that so many unique supplies that let the kids get artsy arrive on my doorstep each month.

The sand, feathers, beads, straws, yarn, etc. arrive in just the right amounts to let them create and keep me from storing random art supplies all over my house.

It can also save money to order this complete play based curriculum as opposed to buying large amounts of craft kits and games.

 

Invitation to Create

 

A recent invitation to create that we really enjoyed was inspired by one of the birds we like most to watch from our window, the chickadee.

The invitation encourages the recognition of shapes in nature.

The children are given one dimensional shapes and encouraged to recreate a chickadee.

We love that Mother Goose Time comes ready to go in the box, but this one contains elements that you could easily recreate in your home, such as paper shapes.

Below you’ll find recommended supplies, set up, discussion prompts, and some insight from our experience!

Happy creating!

 

Create a Bird

Supplies

• chickadee photo*
• feathers*
• paper shapes*
• background paper*
• glue
• markers
• scissors
• nature items (stick) – we used some small straws, since it was pouring outside

*These items were included as part of the Mother Goose Time preschool curriculum.

 

Discuss

What do you think would happen if you held a chickadee?

 

Ladybug was pretty sure it would scare the bird, since they are meant to be outside and flying free.

Owl thought the bird might like to sit with him.

 

 

Set Up

 

Set the inspiration photo, glue, markers, and nature items in the center of the table.

Give each child some feathers, paper shapes and a piece of background paper.

 

Prompts

What shapes can you find on the photo of the chickadee?

 

What will you create with the shapes?

 

How can you use the feathers?

 

Will you use the sticks in your design?

 

Book Recommendation

If you are looking for a great book to read while the kids create,  I highly recommend “Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?” by by Rita Gray and Kenard Pak.

 

It’s one of the best picture books I’ve found that also provides calls for the birds that I and the kids can reproduce!

 

Happy creating,