Science Sunday: Squirrels and Squirrel nests

 

As I mentioned last week, we’ve been studying squirrels (head to last week’s post to get the free rodent picture search and to see our other activities).  It’s been fun to learn about squirrels, their habits, squirrel nests (I didn’t know about them prior to learning about them this time).

 

Looking at that last “paragraph,” I think I use parenthetical expressions too often.  I know they’re bad grammar, but I’ve always liked them.  As I read them, I always think of them as one of those asides that get put into plays and movies when characters break the fourth wall.  But, I digress.

 

Squirrels build their nests out of leaves they’ve collected, a few sticks, and whatever soft things they find.  This is my new theory for where all of my socks disappear to.  I think I can find scientific proof for it.  Maybe they climb into my dryer from the vent on the outside………

So I had the kids go outside and gather up some leaves for me.  This is a 5 gallon bucket they found somewhere full to the brim with leaves.  And there’s still piles and piles of it out there.  I guess we need to do some raking………

 

Then they headed upstairs and gathered fabric scraps for me from the basket they are free to use pieces from.

I decided to have them draw on the backs of paper from the recycling bin, so they were recycling just like the squirrels were.  Also, Princess had gone through 2 million sheets of paper in the past week, and I was tired of being out of paper.

 

So, they happily drew squirrels that could nest in.

 

Then they started to add a small layer of leaves to be the basis of the nest.  Squirrels have an outer layer of leaves on their nest.

Then they dug into the fabric pile and started cutting and gluing away.  I had a really hard time because Batman immediately grabbed the pinwheel you see him cutting up.  It was a perfectly constructed pinwheel, the points even met in the center.  But, I’d put it in there for them to use (I thought he’d use it whole), so I restrained myself from telling him not to use it.  IT WAS SO HARD!!!!!!!!!!!  So hard!

Eventually they were all done, and shared their creations with me.

Can you guess which one the girls did versus the boys?  Superman told me his squirrels were having a party and completely covered their nest in decorations………….  You wouldn’t believe the amount of work he put into the decorations, that you now can’t see.

 

But, they understood it and were happy as clams.  Coming soon: Beavers!

 

Let’s see what others did this week:

Each week I’m spotlighting a few posts that were shared previously.  Many posts get linked up later in the week and they don’t always get as many clicks as they deserve, so I’m trying to spotlight a few every week.

 

 

I loved this nature study from the Learning Table.  Especially seeing the drawing her son made.  I’m thinking we might have to do a back porch nature study, provided we ever get rain…….

 

 

I wish Stacy Sews and Schools had shared this post on coral reefs last year when we were studying Swimming Creatures…..

 

 

Over at No Doubt Learning she’s had this great series going on about Arctic Animals.  I had a hard time deciding where to pin it.

 

 

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