To introduce today’s theme of migration, we talked about this poor bird and what it demonstrated. Looking at a globe, we discussed where such storks migrate and what reasons they might have for doing so.

Next (while coloring in an image of a kingfisher) we read The Little Island, by Margaret Wise Brown. We listed the various animals that arrived, when they showed up, and what they did there. We zoomed in on kingfishers specifically, looking at a map of where they live year-round and where they can be found in the summer or winter.

After that, a game: we pretended an inflated balloon was a bird, and we had to help it get from north to south and back again without touching the floor. After one round, we took a step apart (talking about how migration can be difficult and dangerous) and repeated. Don’t worry, the bird did great.

Next, we read a poem about kingfishers from Robert Macfarlane’s beautifully illustrated The Lost Words. Then another game: we scattered papers over two tables. On the bottom of each paper was either a fish or nothing. Each kid (or “kingfisher”) would flip a paper, and if they didn’t find a fish they’d have to “migrate” over to the other table. Once they got the hang of it, we removed all the fish from one table (calling it “winter”) and everybody had to migrate together.

Finally (finally!) a time-burner: they had to move the balloon (the “bird”) from one side of the room to the other without touching it. A feat that would have been easier in 2019 ðŸ˜‰

Such a fun little group! Very keen, with so much to share and show.

Nature Study: Kingfishers