Since we already have an are in our background for attracting birds we pretty much decided to ignore week one. We did do the weekly devotional but we didn't need to do the work of creating a backyard set up for the birds. Below you will find one of our guests over the summer. We had a variety of birds visit us this year that we haven't had other years so it was neat to have the birds feeders there so we could see them up close. The feeders are set up right outside our back yard window.
These Unit studies are designed to last about a month, with little or no prep needed by the teacher (as long as one has the needed supplies on hand). :) Biblically based, with a variety of activities to attend the needs of different learners so the whole family can work together on them.
In week two they suggest we look through a book called "birds of America". We chose instead to go to our "go-to" book about birds from Canada. :)
What purpose might God have in designing this bird in that particular manner?
For week three of our study we were to get bones and compare them...but we had the joy of finding a dead bird. In the summer heat the maggots cleared away fhe flesh rapidly leaving us with a clean carcass to look at. We were able to closely examine how a birds feathers were designed, how they functioned, as our unit study said, like a zipper. Able to be put together in order to keep a bird nicely dry. We could see and feel how very light-weight birds are put together. From when we had a chicken my son was able to see how they had different feathers...pn feathers, down feathers, and outside feathers We've been able to make cat toys out of the feathers giving my son a chance to see how cats would catch a bird on the wing and how the wings move in the air..It's actually quite fascinating.
AND our study of birds has brought us to owning a finch. Catching and holding the finch and comparing it to a similar sized mouse my son was amazed at how light the bird was and why it was so easy for them to fly quickly away.
So did we like the study?
it was an excellent base of study for us. Gave us lots to discuss and do. I have to admit, we didn't do much of what was in the study practical wise, but we did learn a lot and it was a good base of study for us. The sheer number of resources listed was helpful. The variety of activites and research projects listed were great and gave us opportunities to look up the answers together and learn all the more.
It lays things out in a very systematic way which took us a bit to get used to. And I was glad I was able to be flexible in how we used the material. Good job the creators.
Some facts about Once-a-week unit studies.
Bible based. Designed to work well for badges for boy and girl clubs. Low prep. Designed to fit into a school week well. Topic based unit studies covering a wild gambit of study areas.