Build a fort

• Head outside with your class
• Use found materials (ex: leaves, sticks, cedar boughs on the ground)
• How would this provide us with shelter? Warmth? Comfort?

Set up a bird feeder on a classroom window or in the school yard (as described in the book: Discover Your School’s Better Nature by Jacob Rodenburg)

• Suction ones for windows can cost about $25 this is a great way to bring the outdoors, indoors. 
• If you do not have the budget or the windows, the class can also build simple feeders out of pinecones and/or milk cartons. 
  • https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/make-a-milk-carton-bird-feeder
  • https://preschoolinspirations.com/pine-cone-bird-feeders/ (this calls for peanut butter – if you are a nut free school please use a seed butter or stick to the milk carton feeders) 
• Continued observation of birds searching for food/shelter
  • Observe and keep track of what birds we see, any other animals?
    • Record as a tally chart or through pictures, or pebble jars. 
  • Observe differences in male and female birds and animals. 

Build Animal homes

• Head outside with your class
• Watch ants and ask, where do they go?
• Dig for worms, hold them in your hands and ask, what do their homes look like? What do they do all day?
• Collect materials and build homes for the ants and/or worms. What would make them feel safe? Comfortable?
• If it is winter feel free to address hibernation and build snow caves for groundhogs, snakes, skunks, bears, frogs, and others.

Homes

• What is home for you? What are your responsibilities at home?
• What are basic needs? How do you get them at home?
• Who is at home? What are their responsibilities in creating that home?
• Play “house” outside. 

Read: Little Narwhal, Not Alone by Tiffany Stone, illustrated by Ashlyn Anstee

• Ideally read the book to your class outside. 

Read: The Dancing Trees by Masiana Kelly, illustrated by Michelle Simpson

• Ideally read the book to your class outside.