January Book and Science Activity

To start the new year off with something different, I chose the theme of birdwatching. Even though the weather might keep your children indoors a bit more, there's no reason not to make use of what's right outside you windows.

Here are some of my favorites:
Birds of North America, by Jo S. Kittinger

Professor Pipsqueak's Guide to Birds, by Cynthia Alvarez

Youth's Guide to the Bird's of  (individual state) by Adele Porter

Backyard Birds by Karen Stray Nolting

Birds (Sounds of the Wild Series) by Maurice Pledger...a pop up book with recorded bird sounds

Remember even if you can't find these titles at your local bookstore or online, don't forget to visit your local library and get some books for free!


Science Activity: Feed the birds
To make a suet cakes, you will need:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup vegetable shortening (like Crisco)
4 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 handfull of birdseed, especially sunflower seeds)

Mix all together and place in holes drilled in a log, smeared onto tree bark or frozen into cakes and placed on flat tray feeders or in wire suet cages. Make sure to locate it near your window for easy viewing. It may take a few days for the birds to find it, but they will come every day for snacking after they do!

You can attract chickadees, titmice, wrens and even bluebirds. Let the kids draw the different birds they see. Older kids can keep a list of each species that feed. You can see which seeds attract which species. It will provide you and the kids with many hours of enjoyment.