Last week a family of cardinals hatched out four new babies. The mom and dad were frantic. The babies were too big for the nest and one by one the new birds perched on the limbs of the Japanese Maple, which is just over our outdoor table, and fluttered to the ground. It wasn't long before the babies were making big leaps from tree to tree, much to our relief because Nelson was going to spend the night outside to guard against the cats. Here's a fingerplay Nelson and I made up. I used it the next day in the library with 3 to 6 year olds.
Show the children how to make bird wings by laying your wrists over each other and flapping your hands up and down.
Four Baby Cardinals
Four baby cardinals sitting in a tree. One lifted his wing to scratch a flea. Down he fell from that tree so high, and that's how that baby learned to fly.
Three baby cardinals sitting in a tree. That baby leaned out so he could see. Down he fell from that tree so high, and that's how that baby learned to fly.
Two baby cardinals sitting in a tree. One opened his mouth and swallowed a bee. Down he fell from that tree so high, and that's how that baby learned to fly.
One baby cardinal sitting in a tree. That baby yearned to be free. Off she jumped from that tree so high and that's how that baby learned to fly.
Great big feet and tiny little wings. Puffy, fluffy bumbling things.
When I was with the children, I made the same motions each time for the birds falling. And I made the flying motion for learning to fly, so that the children could do it with me. At the end I cupped my hands for fluffy and puffy. I was lucky to have a stuffed cardinal and even a cardinal purse that used to belong to my mother-in-law.
Comments