Migration

Feltboard story about a Swainson Thrush (on left) that chooses to migrate and a Black-capped Chickadee (on right) that decides to stay home for the winter.

This is the second bird lesson I taught for our Thursday homeschool group.  The first lesson was about bird feathers, beaks, and feet.

Bird Migration Lesson:

• First we discussed the Autumnal Equinox and changes in daylight hours, weather, and plants.  We also discussed how animals adapt to these changes.

• Next I performed "Fly Away or Stay" (Hands-on Nature by Lingelbach & Purcell), modified from a puppet show to a feltboard story.

• Then we reviewed the following birds: Northern Cardinals, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and Double-crested Cormorants.  For each bird, students thought about if the bird's food is available here in the winter, and then decided to stay in place or "migrate" to the back of the room.  Then we looked at the bird's range map.  The students also estimated how far Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate using the range map's scale bar.

• Last, students drew a picture of a bird that migrated or stayed for the winter.

Also this month, the boys and I met with another homeschool family to hike Bald Eagle State Park Butterfly Trail.  We saw a few migrating monarchs and other butterflies on our hike.

Books:  Luck: The Story of a Sandhill Crane by George;  Bird, Butterfly, Eel by Prosek

Reference Books:  On the Wing: American Birds in Migration by Lerner; 

Feathers, Beaks, and Feet

Magnified chicken feather.

This month I taught two lessons about birds for our Thursday homeschool group.  The first lesson was about bird feathers, beaks, and feet.  The second lesson was about bird migration.

Feathers, Beaks, and Feet Lesson:

• First we read the book What Makes a Bird a Bird?  by Garelick.  Then we discussed different types of feathers (contour, flight, and down) and feather parts (shaft, vane, barbs, barbules).

• "Focus on Feathers" Activity (Hands-on-Nature by Lingelbach & Purcell).  Students examined various feathers with magnifying lenses.  They also experimented to determine if feathers float or sink, and what happens if drops of water are dropped on feathers.

• Next we discussed different types of bird beaks and feet and how they are used. 

• "Mix and Match" Activity (Hands-on-Nature by Lingelbach & Purcell).  I used the following Pennsylvania birds for this activity: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Double-crested Cormorant, and Northern Cardinal.  For each bird, students looked at a picture of the bird and guessed what the bird might eat based on the bird's feathers, beaks, and feet.  The students "flew" to find the food.  The food choices were flower nectar, snakes, fish and seeds.

The boys and I started a list of birds we have been able to identify:
Bird Identification List

Books:  What Makes a Bird a Bird?  by Garelick

Railroad Horseshoe Curve

Map of the Railroad Horseshoe Curve National Historical Landmark that Ian created from memory.

 

Horseshoe Adventure

by Ian

Eric, Papa, and I took a trip to Horseshoe Curve. There was a big rain storm while we were driving to Altoona, Pennsylvania so we went inside a store. When it stopped raining, we went to Horseshoe Curve. 

First we paid at the visitor center. Then we looked at the funicular. In the middle of the track there is a switch where both tracks turn a bit, and then there's another switch. When the funiculars meet in the middle, one goes on one side and one goes on the other. We decided to go up the stairs. The person in the visitor center said there are 92 stairs. 

We were right on time for a train. The train was a diesel train pulling mail cars and pipes. Two hours later, we saw a second train with three engines in front pulling pipe cars and flat beds with tractor trailers on them. The train had two back engines. The back engines returned when they were done pushing the train up the hill. 

We climbed down the stairs and went to the other visitor center which had wooden toy trains to play with. Then we went home because it was almost dinner time. It was an exciting adventure!

Books:  Trains by Oxlade;  A Train Goes Clickety-Clack by London;  Trains on the Move by Clark;  Legendary Journeys Trains by Steele

Music:  Train Singer by Schindel;  New Tracks Train Singer by Schindel;  Cars, Trucks and Trains by Murphy

Summer Festivals

Ian used a three-pendulum rotary harmonograph to create this picture at the Dominion Science Center.

This summer we attended the Nittany Antique Machinery Show in Centre Hall, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College, People's Choice Festival in Boalsburg, Farm Fest in Centre Hall, Ag Progress Days in Rock Springs, Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair, and CrickFest near Millheim.

Activities included:  antique lumber sawing demonstration, blacksmith demonstration, painting, musical instrument petting zoo, inflatable bounce houses, hands-on science exhibits, mini-train ride, animal petting zoo, live music, mechanical cow milker demonstration, pedal-powered tractor races, pony ride, creating nature sculptures, duck race, and water bottle rockets