Requirements:

Write an original bird riddle or joke. For example: Knock, knock. Whoʼs there? Who. Who, who? Youʼre not an owl, silly!

Read a story or myth about a bird and then draw a picture to illustrate the story.

Learn to play a bird game like Duck, Duck, Goose or Cock Fight. Cock Fight

Equipment: colored strips of ribbon or paper, pins or tape How to Play: Form a circle with the leader standing in the center. The leader selects two players from the circle to represent two cocks. The “cocks” stand back to back while the leader pins or tapes a piece of colored paper or ribbon to each of the girlsʼ backs. By moving or jumping around, each player tries to discover the color on her opponentʼs back. The winner is the girl who discovers her opponentʼs color first. Two new players are chosen, and a new round begins.

Learn at least one song about birds, such as “Kookaburra” or “Six Little Ducks.”

If you can find an abandoned nest, take tweezers and dissect the nest. Place the different materials in different piles and talk about the different materials and how the nest was put together. Then try to make your own nest from twigs, string, feathers, moss, grass, or other materials that a bird might use.

Look at pictures of birds. What characteristics do they have? Then invent an alien bird. Before you design your bird, think about where it is from, what it eats, what sounds it makes, what size it is, and what kind of nest it makes.

Do at least two of the following activities with eggs:

• Take empty eggshell halves and place them upside down in a square. How strong are the eggs? Make a prediction as to how many books they will hold. Test your prediction. How many books did the eggs hold before breaking?

• Can you tell the difference between raw and hard-boiled eggs? One way to tell is by spinning the eggs. Learn to tell the difference between raw and hard-boiled eggs.

• Hard boil some eggs and put them in vinegar. Leave the eggs in the vinegar overnight. What happens to the eggs?

Make a bird feeder. Terracotta Bird Feeder Supplies: one two-inch to three-inch terracotta flowerpot, one four-inch flowerpot saucer and one six-inch flowerpot saucer, tacky glue, string Instructions: Glue the flowerpot upside down in the center of the six-inch saucer. Glue the four-inch saucer right ways up on the upturned flowerpot. Glue the string in the shape of a “t” on the bottom of the six-inch flowerpot saucer. Tie the ends of the strings together. Decorating (optional): Using paint or permanent markers before assembling the bird feeder is suggested.

Winter Treat Garlands for the Birds Supplies: oranges, day-old bread, heavy-duty thread. yarn needle, knife Instructions: Tear or cut the bread into quarters. Ask your leader to help you slice the orange into rounds and then cut each round into quarters. Thread the needle with about a yard of thread and string the food in a pattern, leaving a few inches between pieces. When you have several lengths strung, take them outside and decorate a tree or bush with this natural snack for the birds.

Learn to identify different types of birds common to your area. What are their defining characteristics? How are they alike or different from other birds?