As parents of a 4 year old, we were encouraged to up Ella's preschool attendance to 3 days a week. However, Dave and I decided that we did enough family outings and enrichment to feel just fine about keeping her at Tuesdays and Thursdays and saving the tuition. It is with this logic that we took a family field trip to do some birdwatching today. Next week is Bird Week at Ella's preschool as they review A-Albatross. So we realized a trip to our little zoo (you know, the one we get in free now with our Oakland membership) was in order. This zoo was perfect because it really features nothing but birds and monkeys. Unfortunately when Delia heard about the zoo outing, she asked, "I see lion?" Nope, sorry Delia. "I see panda bear?" No, again. But, with a focus on birds, the trip was still super fun.
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Before we left, Ella cut out feathers for a blue-jay hat. She was pretty excited about it, but couldn't wear it in the drizzle. She also brought her binoculars to help see the birds closer and maybe even find some that were far away in the sky. Here she studies ducks in the pond.
After she learned about and observed some of the birds, she would draw a picture of it and write its name in her bird notebook. We saw hummingbirds, ducks, bald eagles, turkey vultures, ibises, hawks, curassows, lorikeets, starlings and more!
Ella tested her wing span and discerned that she is a barn owl.
Honestly, we've been to this zoo numerous times, but have never learned as much as today! Usually in the aviary, we just snap a picture by the waterfall and enjoy the mist. Today we actually studied the signs and tried to find each of the birds that lived in this enclosure. They were really cool birds too!
"My turn!" Finally, Delia gets her hands on the binoculars.
In the lorikeet aviary, Delia was very sure she wanted the birdies to land on her arm (but not her head). Dave bought the $1 cup of nectar so she could see them close up. She was frustrated when they would not just land on her...
Well, thanks to Ella's preschool animal alphabet, we are all a little more knowledgeable and appreciative of birds now. And we had yet another fabulously fun family outing.
2 comments:
Sounds like a wonderful day! Ella will have a lot to share on Tuesday. I loved her drawing of the bird! We had notebooks (journals) for our kids this summer for each "stop" we took on our vacation! They LOVE the opportunity to express what they've seen and learned about! Once again...another great VM outing!!! They've been known to inspire some on our end! :0)
I totally agree with your decision. Here there is a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program that is paid for through the state of Florida but your 4 year old HAS to go for a minimum number of hours which translates to roughly 5 mornings or 5 afternoons a week. I did not like it all. I felt the same way that if we did other enrichment activities at home and out of the home that her education would not be limited in any way. Anyway... looks like you had fun on your outing. Your girls sure are cuties!
-Andrea
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