Having plenty of seasonal activities on offer throughout the grey and gloomy winter days and cold comfortless weather will help children and staff to stay motivated and cheerful.
FEED THE BIRDS
Make special bird cake and then observe the birds as they feast on it.
You will need:
Yoghurt cartons, 30cm lengths of string, bird seed, sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts, stale cheese and lard (an adult should melt this and leave it to cool) WHAT TO DO:
1. Mix the dry ingredients with the fat (two parts fat to one part bird mix).
2. Spoon the mixture into the yoghurt pots.
3. Push both ends of the string deep into the centre of the mixture.
4. Place in the fridge for a few hours to set.
5. Dip the pots into a bowl of warm water for a few seconds and tip upside down to remove the bird cake.
Bird tables can be easily made and hung from a tree.
YOU WILL NEED:
Old tray or wooden fruit or vegetable box, 45cm of rope, plastic sheeting What to do:
1. Attach the rope to each corner of the tray and bring to the middle.
2. Tie the ends together and attach to a looped rope.
3. Stock it with bird food and hang from a tree or washing line.
Why not set up a viewing area with binoculars and bird books, so that children can identify the different birds that land on the table?
WEATHER FORECAST
Studying the changeable winter weather will get everyone working together.
Have clipboards and pens available for children to record the day's weather conditions. Information books and access to TV or radio forecasts can also add interest.
A weather chart can be made, with the days of the month along the bottom and the three zones for rainfall, temperature and weather up the side. The rainfall zone can be divided into centimetre measurements and the temperature zone into five segments, so that at the end of the month the marks can be joined to show the weather pattern. Symbols can be drawn to show the weather.
WINDSOCK
You will need:
Old shirt sleeve, two small curtain rings, needle and thread, thick scrap material, garden cane, old bricks or stones, paint, compass What to do:
1. Sew two small curtain rings to the top and bottom of the shoulder end of the sleeve.
2. Wind the scrap material around the cane, about 30cm from the top.
3. Slip the curtain rings over the garden cane.
4. Push the cane into the ground.
5. Paint North, South, East, West on the four stones using weatherproof paint or water-based paint coated with yacht varnish.
6. Using a compass for guidance, place the stones appropriately on the ground at the foot of the windsock.
RAIN GUAGE
You will need:
Plastic measuring jug, a few stones What to do:
1. Place the stones in the jug to weight it down and place in an exposed area of the garden.
2. Once it has rained, remove the stones and record the level of water.
3. Empty the jug and replace the stones ready for the next rainfall.
THERMOMETER
A large piece of painted card divided into five segments marked 'freezing', 'cold', 'warm', 'hot' and 'boiling' makes a fun thermometer.
Attach an arrow to a peg or a large paper clip so that it can be moved up or down, according to the day's temperature or as the children vote for it.
GALE FORCE
Make windmills or kites, or hold colourful streamers and watch them flutter and dance in the wind. Kites can be as simple as a fish shape with a wide flat mouth, taped with masking tape on to a plastic carrier or bin bag, leaving the mouth open to catch the air. Windmill bases can be plastic bottles or drinks cartons weighted with clay or stones at the bottom. Cut out the sails and attach with a paper fastener.
COMPETITION TIME
Why not collect old wellies and organise a welly throwing contest? Once the children have tired of throwing them they can be decorated with paint or nail varnish to become plant pots.
