For an impromptu visit to P4 I learned that the class have been incubating eggs in their classroom and this provided a wonderful path for exploring NESTS.

We heard nesting stories and I met Miss McMahon assisting Mrs Hughes in the classroom and she had researched some very unusual nests made by birds all over the world.

     

We discussed how and why birds made nests. We passed around eggs to FEEL their shape in our hands and to get a sense of how we could PROTECT the egg.

We thought about SECURITY, WARMTH, COMFORT and  what birds do with the materials they gather when they build their nests: LAYER and WEAVE.

We decided to try building a nest ourselves. However before we began Eileen the classroom assistant and Mrs Hughes went to fetch a REAL NEST to show the children…

 

I brought some materials along for constructing a nest and Miss McMahon had brought straw, twigs and paper and the children worked in small groups to create nests.

    

   

    

The children had to think about a FRAMEWORK for their nest, or a BASE and to find ways to SECURE their materials, create a COMFORTABLE space to CRADLE and PROTECT the egg. Look at the these wonderful creations..

   

   

   

   

   

 

We had a great discussion about all the nests as the children each came up to tell the class how their nest was built. We determined that today we had created  3D work and that this was a SCULPTURE!