Attracting wild birds to your setting can be a piece of cake
1 Feed the birds
ADULT-LED
Set up a bird table in your outdoor area and have fun observing the birds, and perhaps squirrels, that come to feed there.
Planned learning intentions
To find out about and identify some features of living things they observe To use counting and numbers up to ten
Adult:child ratio 1:5
Resources
Bird table, hanging bird feeders, bird food, clipboards, cubes or other counting materials, sand timers, bird identification charts, reference books about birds, binoculars
Activity content
* Site the bird table close to a window where the children can see the birds and it is easily accessible outside.
* Talk about what birds eat and the birds' and children's favourite foods.
* Look at reference books and show the children how to download material from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds website
* Tip out several packets of wild bird feed and observe the contents.
Explain that it is important to feed the birds in winter, as it is at this time that their natural food sources are most scarce.
* Once the children start putting feed out for the birds, they will have to keep feeding them, as the birds will come to rely on this source of food and will come regularly to the setting to feed.
* To attract as many species as possible hang up peanut and seed feeders and put out various food on the table such as fruit, carrots, bread and bacon fat.
* Remind the children that birds, like them, need to drink water as well, especially if they are eating a lot of dry seeds, so that they must put out a shallow dish of water.
* With the children, organise a rota for when each child will be responsible for putting out food and water. Give each child a piece of paper, ask them to write their name on it and put it in the bag. Pull out some names and put them on a day in the week on the calendar.
* Decide together when and for how long you will observe the bird table each day and resource the observation area with clipboards, binoculars, tick lists, bird books and identification charts so that the children can record their observations and find out more information about the birds that they see. Encourage the children to talk about the birds' size, colouring and particular features such as their beaks and claws.
* Show the children how to turn over the sand timer and take a cube every time a bird arrives at the bird table. When the timer has run out the children should count the number of cubes and write that number on the data chart.
Stepping stones
A child with little experience may look for birds and remark on their arrival but may be unable to count how many.
A child with some experience will be able to identify how many birds are at the bird table at any one time, but may be unable to enter all this information into a chart. They may be able to identify some of the different species of birds.
A child with more experience will be able to count how many birds visit the table over a period of time and with support identify how many birds visited in total. They will be able to name one or two different species of birds
Extension ideas
* Identify when and what type of birds are coming to the table and study their behaviour. Does the robin always arrive first? Is it true that pigeons always chase away the other birds?
* If possible, bring in some bird feathers for the children to observe and, perhaps, use as 'paintbrushes'.
* Make a birdbath by placing a shallow dish or upturned dustbin lid in the ground. Placing a small rock in the middle will help the birds to reach the water easily.
* Make a graph of the number of birds that wash in the bird bath.
* Make a squirrel observation post and record every time a squirrel visits.
Provide binoculars for the children to observe the animals closely.
2 Bake a cake
ADULT-LED
Involve the children in making some bird cakes to hang in the outdoor area.
Key learning intentions
To use simple tools and techniques
To listen and respond with comments, actions or questions
To use language such as 'heavier' and 'lighter' to compare quantities
Adult:child ratio 1:6
Resources
Yogurt pots, bradawls, string, scissors, wild birdseed, lard, grated cheese, spoons, large bowl, balances
Activity content
* Give each child a yogurt pot and show them how to make a hole in the base, thread the string through the hole and knot it.
* Discuss what birds eat, look at the birdseed, lard and grated cheese.
* Ask them to measure out enough birdseed to half-fill each pot. Tip the mixture from each pot into a bowl.
* Ask them to take it in turns to stir in a teaspoonful of grated cheese.
Weigh the birdseed and cheese mixture.
* Weigh almost the same weight in lard and melt in a microwave oven. Stir the melted lard into the mixture. Emphasise that the lard is too hot to touch.
* When the mixture has cooled, share it between the pots. Ask the children to count how many spoonfuls for each pot. Leave for about an hour to set.
* Ask for suggestions where to hang the bird cakes. Remind the group about birds feeding where they feel safe. During the week, observe which birds feed on each cake.
Things to do and say
* What does the mixture look like?
* Can anyone guess how many spoonfuls it will take to fill up the pot?
* How will we know which side of the balance is heavier?
* I wonder why the birds like the bird cakes so much?
* Where would you like to hang your bird cake?
Stepping stones
A child with little experience will begin to realise the purpose of the yogurt pots and string, and they will be interested in the process of making the bird cake. They will use words such as 'big' and 'little' to compare mixtures and pots.
A child with some experience will make the cake with some success. They will be able to say that one cake is bigger than another, and that one piece of string is longer than another.
A child with more experience will make the cake competently and accurately.
They will compare and evaluate the different cakes and quantities using language such as 'longer' and 'heavier'.
