Home Hot Topics Articles About Us / Contact Us Activities & Curriculum Activities for Outcome-Based Learning Arts & Crafts Music for Learning Recommended Reading ECN Radio NEWSlink How to Get a School Grant Movement, Play and Physical Activity for Children Topics In Early Childhood Education Art and Creativity in Early Childhood Education Job Sharing Board State Licensing Requirements Subscribe today to our bi-weekly newsletter!   ACTIVITY Citrus Bird Feeders By Rae Ann Hirsh Feeding the birds is a popular activity that toddlers enjoy. This activity will help them to connect with and care for nature. This type of bird feeder is suitable for children with allergies, and an alternative to the traditional peanut butter and pinecone feeder. Curriculum Area Science Before You Start Cut each piece of fruit in half. Using a large metal spoon, loosen the contents of each half of fruit. Put the birdseed into a bowl. Save one piece of fruit of each kind for the toddler to investigate. Let's Begin 1. Show the toddler the fruit. Let her hold each kind, look at it, smell it, and taste it. 2. Show her the fruit cut in half. 3. Give her a spoon and encourage her to scoop out the contents of the fruit. 4. After the fruit has been cleaned out, give the toddler a scoop. Encourage her to scoop the birdseed out of the bowl and to fill the fruit with the seed. 5. Put the fruit halves on a windowsill and watch for birds. Furthermore Take photographs of the birds that eat from the fruit. Make a bird-watching book. Encourage the toddler to draw a picture of the bird (keep in mind most toddlers are in the scribbling stage of fine motor development). Rae Ann Hirsh is an adjunct professor at Carlow College and the author of an early childhood curriculum text for pre-service and in-service teachers entitled Early Childhood Curriculum: Incorporating Multiple Intelligences, Developmentally Appropriate Practice, and Play. She also serves on the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children’s Board and is the editor of the PGHAEYC newsletter.   Tweet Oranges, lemons, grapefruits Birdseed Spoons Scoop Bowl Best Value Paint Bowls - Set of 6 Kid-Size Notebooks- Set of 24 Colorations® Marker & Crayon Combo Pack- 400 Pieces Hamilton™ Digital Camera Articles and activities listed on this website may be printed for single use. No article or activity may be duplicated or distributed in any form, in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher, Excelligence Learning Corporation. Contact Permissions Department.

© 2008 Excelligence Learning Corporation, All Rights Reserved.