Birds!  Story Time

Recommended or used Books:

Birds by Kevin Henkes

Birdsongs by Betsy Franco

Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert

In My Nest by Sara Gillingham

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

I love to mention that birds are the wild animals that we can see everyday, no matter if we live in the city or the country.  I talk about the birds I have seen today and ask them to look for birds when they are outside on the playground or driving home in the car with their Mom or Dad.

I start out by reading Birds by Kevin Henkes.  This books ends with the little girl saying that she can't fly, but she can sing.  So, we sing!

Baby Birds

Way up in the sky, the big  birds fly (flap arms)

Down in their nest, baby birds rest (cup hands)

With a wing on the left (flap left arm)

And a wing on the right (flap right arm)

Tired baby birds sleep all night (rock arms like rocking a baby)  Shhh!  They’re sleeping!

The bright sun comes up!  (circle arms)

The dew falls away.  (fingers twinkle down)

Good Morning!  Good Morning!  The little birds say.  (cup hands to mouth)

Then it's flannel board time with:

In My Nest

In my nest there are curly twigs,

Soft, warm feathers,

Smooth green leaves with mud to help stick them together,

And there is me!

I am cozy in my nest...

With my family!

If it is a small group, I give a piece of this flannel to each child to put on the flannel board at the appropriate time.  We build a nest (just like birds build nests) with leaves, mud, sticks, and feathers.

Or
Little Bird, Little Bird Fly Through my Window song by Elizabeth Mitchell (so lovely!) and flannel board:

Little bird, little bird, fly through my window!
Little bird, little bird, fly through my window!
Little bird, little bird, fly through my window!
Find molasses candy!
Repeat, using jaybird, robin bird, goldfinch, chickadee, etc.
Have the birds fly to the (flannel board) window as you sing the verse.

Five Hoot Owls Flannel

Five Hoot Owls sitting in a tree.

One flew away!  How Many do you see?

One, two, three, four!

Four Hoot Owls….

OR

One Little Bluebird

One little Bluebird, up and up he flew!

Along came another and that makes two.

Two Little Blue birds sitting in a tree.

Along came another one and that makes three!

Three little Blue Birds sitting near a door.

Along came another and than makes four.

Four Little Blue Birds feeling so alive.

Along came another one and that makes five.

Five little Blue Birds had a lovely day.

They sang a pretty song and then flew away!

OR

Two Little Dickey Birds

Two little dickey birds sitting on a cloud.

One named soft.  One named LOUD!

Fly away soft.  Fly away LOUD!

Come back soft.  Come back LOUD!

Do it again and have the children get their 'birds' (thumbs) ready with:

Two little black birds sitting very still.
One named Jack, One named Jill.
Fly away Jack.  Fly away Jill.
Come back Jack.  Come back Jill.

And yet again:

Two little chickadees flying in the sky.
One named Low and one named High.
Fly away Low.  Fly away High.
Come back Low!.  Come back High!

Time for the special visitors:  Mother Owl and her three owl babies:  Sarah, Percy and Bill!

I tell the story of Owl Babies by Martin Waddell using these puppets.  It is particularly effective to pause each time after you say, "And Bill said," so that the children can help you say, "I want my Mommy!"  Great success!

We all know that birds lay eggs, so it's time to sing the Shakey Egg Song: 

Shakey Egg Song:

Shake, shake, shake your egg.

Shake, shake, shake your egg.

Shake, shake shake your egg.

Shake your egg and put it on your head.

Ask children to name other parts of their bodies

And repeat song.