During our Forest School sessions this term we have been learning about birds. Through games, activity’s and observations the children have widened their knowledge. This week we have been focusing on feathers, their shapes and their function. We have the advantage of having our own birds in school, so Miss Rowe brought the hens in today so the children could really see and feel the different types of feathers up close.
Not only does this allow for first hand experience it also really encourages those who may be a little unsure, to become more confident around the hens. The children were really surprised at the strength some feathers and they could see why body feathers need to be different to keep the birds warm. Of course our silkie hens are very unusual in that a lot of their feathers are more like fur in texture, so these small birds need to avoid the rain as they take a long time to dry out. Being able to handle our hens really helps the children to learn about both their fragility and strength, it fosters a nurturing approach to the world around us.
