Making Bird Seed Cakes

Our return to school has coincided with a cold snap! Children were supported to think about keeping their bodies warm and noticing when their bodies were cold. Children observed their warm breath in the cold air, the frozen water and frost on the plants.
Children were encouraged to think about our bird visitors and how they might be feeling in this weather. We decided they needed some food for energy to help keep warm. Some children said they saw "parrots" and "pigeons".
Children worked collaboratively to collect the bird feeders, counting and checking they were working.
Children counted how many we had and decided there were not enough for our many trees.
They decided to use old, small flower pots to make bird seed cakes.

You need:
vegetable suet
bird seeds
small yoghurt or flower pots
string

Children explored the soft suet using their fingers, talking about how it felt. They measured out suet and seeds and melted the suet, stirring in seeds. Next they poured it into the empty pots at attached string. Children noticed the changes as the suet solidified and went very hard. They tipped out the bird seed cake.
Collaboratively they problem solved how to get them in to the trees. Some children had the good idea of using the ladder to reach the branches.  
This morning when children came to school they noticed one had been eaten: we are watching carefully and using our bird spotting charts to see whether we spot any bird visitors or whether it was the cheeky squirrel!

Could you and your child make a bird feeder for your garden, balcony or to hang in the park?
Why not use our recipe. It is so simple. 
Or why not just notice the birds and wildlife you spot on the way to school: foxes, birds, worms, rats (!) or maybe pets such as cats and dogs?