Molly's entire UPK suite went to a local nature preserve, Finch Hollow, this morning. It was so beautiful outside, a perfect day for an outdoor field trip!! The kids were totally taken with learning about bird calls, bird nests, and bird appetites! And that was only on the outside part! Inside, they learned more about larger birds and mammals. I will be taking the kids there this summer, so that we can hike further on the trails and look for more birds. What a fun place!
The kids started off by learning about bird nests and how they are built, how they vary by each bird. Here, the kids are imitating a crest on the head of a blue-jay.
Off we go down the hiking trail, down to the pond.
There were so many different bird calls to hear and we were able to see a lot of the birds making the calls, but not all. Here, our guide, Mr. Tazberg, is imitating how a woodpecker gets grubs out of dead trees by banging his head against one. Headache!?
Next, he had the kids practicing how to get their beaks in working order.
A real deer leg. Deer have 4 toes (not two) and their footprints form the shape of a heart. That was my new thing I learned today!! So then he made fake tracks to show us how the pointed part of the heart leads in the direction the deer is headed.
Molly, Karen and Jay-Lynn flying like one big hawk (another interactive part of the hike). I don't think they let go of each other the entire time. Sweet!!!
Snack time outside = 22 happy kids!!
Inside the kids got into learning about mammals (fur) and birds (no fur). The each got to 'dig' their own burrow, for when they become professional groundhogs and need to hibernate all winter.
Molly volunteered to be turned into a furry mammal.
But then her friend Jay-Lynn followed through.
But then Molly redeemed herself and volunteered to be turned into a bird, covered with a variety of feathers, wings, and a beak. Love my girl!!!
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