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​This is nice and simple. There's actually very little to say. Birds, just like us, need access to water for drinking and washing. It can be as easy as an upturned lid of a bin or perhaps a shallow bowl. Just make sure to include some rocks so that the birds can perch. You can have it flat on the ground or at a height. You might even attract some thirsty insects too! Here are a selection of homemade bird baths from the web:

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​This is nice and simple. There's actually very little to say. Birds, just like us, need access to water for drinking and washing. It can be as easy as an upturned lid of a bin or perhaps a shallow bowl. Just make sure to include some rocks so that the birds can perch.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Can you identify any of these birds at home?

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Make a chart using all of the information you collect.

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Would you like to do a project on Ireland's Birds? Use this link and the DK Find Out one above.

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Ireland's Top 20 + garden birds introduces you to over twenty species you are most likely to see in your garden. It is based on results from The Garden Bird Survey, organised by BirdWatch Ireland, which runs every winter, over a thirteen-week period from the end of November to

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Could you be a bird detective?

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Watch these short videos identifying different types of trees.

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wishing all who love trees a very lovely rest before we get planting again in 2018!
​WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE COME FIRST IN IRELAND IN THE "LOCAL TO GLOBAL" CATEGORY and to have been able to meet the lord mayor and the minister for climate action in the mansion house where we gave a presentation to 600 people. easy treesie. you can see all the photos of the day here.

also thanks to so many for voting for our project "The irish tree trail; easyas12tree" for the unesco people's choice awards.
​

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wishing all who love trees a very lovely rest before we get planting again in 2018!​WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE COME FIRST IN IRELAND IN THE "LOCAL TO GLOBAL" CATEGORY and to have been able to meet the lord mayor and the minister for climate action in the mansion house where we gave a presentation to 600 people.

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The swallow feeds on insects, which it catches in its beak as it flies through the air. There are no insects in the air here in winter so the swallow flies off to warmer countries in Africa where there are plenty. But summer days are longer in Ireland than they are in Africa, so the swallows return here to breed. They need the longer days to have enough time to collect flying insects to feed their young.

Swallows build their nests inside sheds and barns.

Those that build outside on the walls of houses under the gutters are not swallows but house martins. This survey is looking at when the first swallows arrive in Ireland.

They come in small groups of two or three and fly around the sky collecting insects. They are easily recognised by their long forked tails, which are much longer than those of the house martins.

Experiments

What to record

Watch the sky every day for swallows from St Patrick´s day on. When you are sure you see a swallow, record the date and the information requested on the Spotter´s Guide. Then register your information.

Botanical Information

The swallow is a migratory bird that spends winter in Africa and the summers in Ireland. It comes here to breed in summer because the days are much longer here in summer than in Africa, and so there is more daytime to collect insects to feed their young.

They build their nests indoors in barns from mud, which they scoop up with their beaks. They line their nests with feathers, which they pluck from their own bodies. They lay 3-6 eggs, white in colour, which hatch out after fifteen days. It takes another twenty days for the chicks to grow enough to fly and they are fed during this time by both parents.

Ringing their legs with special rings that don´t hurt them gives us information about them and we now know that the same swallows return year after year to the same nests. If the summer is good in Ireland and there are lots of flies they will raise a second brood. They leave at the end of September to return to Africa for the winter as insects are very scarce in Ireland in the winter. They line up on electric wires at the end of September all twittering together and they head off to Africa in family parties and groups.

Folklore

Swallows spend the winter in Africa and return here to breed each summer. Some arrive early but it is not until they are here in good numbers that we can say that summer has arrived - hence the expression - One swallow doesn´t make a summer. Long ago there was a belief that ailments could be cured by treating them with something that resembled the ailment. Thus because swallows twittered (rather than sang) they could be used as a treatment for stuttering and for epilepsy. This involved eating the flesh of the swallow something we wouldn´t dream of doing now as swallows are a protected species.

People also believed that there was a small stone in a swallows nest - the swallow stone and that this stone would cure blindness. Of course there is no such thing but that is what people believed because swallows were so good at flying around dark sheds and barns.

Swallows are birds of good luck. It will bring good fortune if they nest on your property. It is a sign of good weather if they are flying high in the sky. They are specially favoured by God so it is really unlucky to kill one.

Long ago people didn´t know that they migrated to Africa in winter. When they couldn´t see them flying around they were sure that they hibernated in the mud at the bottom of ponds. This of course doesn´t happen.

"One Swallow doesn't make a Summer"

This means that there are always early swallows to be seen in March but this doesn´t mean that there is an end to the cold weather. Swallows appear in greater numbers in April and of course there will be enough aerial insects to sustain them, indicating that summer has really only arrived now.

When swallows fly high in the sky it is a sign of good weather. Whereas, if they fly low, it is a sign of bad weather. Flies fly low when bad weather is approaching because of lower atmospheric pressure and the swallows follow them down and so fly low.

Swallows are birds of good omen. To have them nesting on one´s property is thought to bring good luck. And they are unlucky birds to kill as they are favoured by God.

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The swallow feeds on insects, which it catches in its beak as it flies through the air. There are no insects in the air here in winter so the swallow flies off to warmer countries in Africa where there are plenty.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Can you keep a tree journal? What do you observe about your chosen tree?

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Try some nature art inspired by Andy Goldsworthy.

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artworks stone nature tree magical land art andrew goldsworthy sculptures artists decordova sculpture leaves

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Read all about Minibeasts and their Microhabitats.

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Key questions

> What animals are in our environment?
> Where are they?

Outline

Children will be given the opportunity to search for minibeasts in the school grounds. This activity focuses on helping children develop the scientific / geographical skills of observing. The children will classify (sort) their animals (or those pictures in Investigation 03a, if a range of animals were not found).

Preparation

Collect resources required. Choose an outside area where the children can search for minibeasts. Ensure the area is clean and that litter has been removed.

Learning outcomes
On completing these activities all children will be able to:
> collect minibeasts and make close observations, recording their observations using
detailed drawings / maps; and
> classify animals into groups and develop lists of characteristics for each group.

Resources

Dessert Spoons / Teaspoons / Small trowel

Collection box with lid (e.g. plastic lunchbox, take away containers)

Magnifiers / Bug viewers (optional)

Multiple copies of picture / photo cards in envelopes (Investigation 03a)

Minibeast Hunt worksheet (Investigation 03b)

Learning activities

1. Give each pair/ group a large and a small spoon and a collection box with lid. Let the children search for minibeasts in the soil, leaf litter and under rocks or fallen branches.

2. The children bring the minibeasts into the classroom. The children observe one minibeast at a time, using the following types of questions:

> Where was it found: Was it light or dark? Dry or wet? In the open or underneath something else?

> Look at its head and body: What do you see? Is it hard or soft / big or small? Does it have legs?
Does it have wings? How many?

> Look at how it moves: Does it move all the time? Does it move quickly or slowly? Does it leave a trail?

3. Encourage the children to make a drawing of the minibeast they are observing and where they found it, using the Minibeast Hunt page (Investigation 03b). Each group can then discuss their observations in pairs / with the whole class.

4. Give each group a set of picture cards (Investigation 03a) and afford them a few minutes to look at the different pictures. Encourage the children to discuss the characteristics of each of the picture cards - by asking the same types of questions as above.

5. Each group then sorts the cards into two, three and four groups (or more) in turn. Encourage the children to name their groups each time, e.g. flying group, hairy group, etc. The children could then paste the pictures onto larger sheets of paper.

Notes

* In classifying and then justifying their actions the children are working as scientists.
* It is important to try to avoid telling the children the names of the minibeasts immediately. Let them observe the minibeasts first, and then perhaps later tell them the names.
* The children should be encouraged to return the minibeasts to their natural environment. They should wash their hands, and the surfaces on which they were observing the minibeasts should be cleaned thoroughly.

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Key questions > What animals are in our environment? > Where are they? Outline Children will be given the opportunity to search for minibeasts in the school grounds. This activity focuses on helping children develop the scientific / geographical skills of observing.

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1.      Draw or paint different Minibeasts.

2.      Create Minibeast clay monsters using clay and natural materials from the wildlife area.

3.      Create a giant land art
Minibeast using found materials gathered in the wildlife area.

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Create log piles and make ladybird hotels, plant flowers to attract bees and butterflies.

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1.Minibeast project - Minibeast hunt or on a Minibeast of their choice including taking pictures, describing where they found it, creating a fact file, etc.

2.Recount writing (setting, events in
chronological order and a concluding statement) on
their Minibeast hunt.

3. Write a story as a Minibeast living in the wildlife area.

4. Acrostic poem

5. Create a fantasy Minibeast that is suited to living in a particular habitat.

6. Use collected data to create graphs and charts on the number of different types of Minibeasts
you found and the number of carnivores, herbivores, detritivores.

7.   Research:

1.  Particular habitats

2.  Food chains

3.  Life Cycles

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Identify location, take a picture, draw and write about the primrose.

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The swallow feeds on insects, which it catches in its beak as it flies through the air. There are no insects in the air here in winter so the swallow flies off to warmer countries in Africa where there are plenty. But summer days are longer in Ireland than they are in Africa, so the swallows return here to breed. They need the longer days to have enough time to collect flying insects to feed their young.

Swallows build their nests inside sheds and barns.

Those that build outside on the walls of houses under the gutters are not swallows but house martins. This survey is looking at when the first swallows arrive in Ireland.

They come in small groups of two or three and fly around the sky collecting insects. They are easily recognised by their long forked tails, which are much longer than those of the house martins.

Experiments

What to record

Watch the sky every day for swallows from St Patrick´s day on. When you are sure you see a swallow, record the date and the information requested on the Spotter´s Guide. Then register your information.

Botanical Information

The swallow is a migratory bird that spends winter in Africa and the summers in Ireland. It comes here to breed in summer because the days are much longer here in summer than in Africa, and so there is more daytime to collect insects to feed their young.

They build their nests indoors in barns from mud, which they scoop up with their beaks. They line their nests with feathers, which they pluck from their own bodies. They lay 3-6 eggs, white in colour, which hatch out after fifteen days. It takes another twenty days for the chicks to grow enough to fly and they are fed during this time by both parents.

Ringing their legs with special rings that don´t hurt them gives us information about them and we now know that the same swallows return year after year to the same nests. If the summer is good in Ireland and there are lots of flies they will raise a second brood. They leave at the end of September to return to Africa for the winter as insects are very scarce in Ireland in the winter. They line up on electric wires at the end of September all twittering together and they head off to Africa in family parties and groups.

Folklore

Swallows spend the winter in Africa and return here to breed each summer. Some arrive early but it is not until they are here in good numbers that we can say that summer has arrived - hence the expression - One swallow doesn´t make a summer. Long ago there was a belief that ailments could be cured by treating them with something that resembled the ailment. Thus because swallows twittered (rather than sang) they could be used as a treatment for stuttering and for epilepsy. This involved eating the flesh of the swallow something we wouldn´t dream of doing now as swallows are a protected species.

People also believed that there was a small stone in a swallows nest - the swallow stone and that this stone would cure blindness. Of course there is no such thing but that is what people believed because swallows were so good at flying around dark sheds and barns.

Swallows are birds of good luck. It will bring good fortune if they nest on your property. It is a sign of good weather if they are flying high in the sky. They are specially favoured by God so it is really unlucky to kill one.

Long ago people didn´t know that they migrated to Africa in winter. When they couldn´t see them flying around they were sure that they hibernated in the mud at the bottom of ponds. This of course doesn´t happen.

"One Swallow doesn't make a Summer"

This means that there are always early swallows to be seen in March but this doesn´t mean that there is an end to the cold weather. Swallows appear in greater numbers in April and of course there will be enough aerial insects to sustain them, indicating that summer has really only arrived now.

When swallows fly high in the sky it is a sign of good weather. Whereas, if they fly low, it is a sign of bad weather. Flies fly low when bad weather is approaching because of lower atmospheric pressure and the swallows follow them down and so fly low.

Swallows are birds of good omen. To have them nesting on one´s property is thought to bring good luck. And they are unlucky birds to kill as they are favoured by God.

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The swallow feeds on insects, which it catches in its beak as it flies through the air. There are no insects in the air here in winter so the swallow flies off to warmer countries in Africa where there are plenty.

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Garden and Nature ideas for the month of June

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Gardening and Nature videos for Images of Nature for Yarrow (Athair thalún) Bush vetch (Peasair fhiáin) Cornfield flowers (Bláthanna goirt arbhair) Dog rose

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Go on a wildflower trail and try and identify as many wildflowers as you can.

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Plants by Colour

Clicking on the colour grouping will lead to a display of thumbnails of all the wildflowers of that particular colour on this website. Then just click on the plant's thumbnail to get to the relevant page of information and photographs.

The plants are grouped as follows:

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Irish Wildflowers Irish Wild Plants Irish Wild Flora Wildflowers of Ireland

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Clicking on the colour grouping will lead to a display of thumbnails of all the wildflowers of that particular colour on this website. Then just click on the plant's thumbnail to get to the relevant page of information and photographs. The plants are grouped as follows:

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Story Online

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Please Please the Bees read by Rashida Jones

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Blooming Bees: The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

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Blooming Bees: The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

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Blooming Bees: The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

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Presentation

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Beekeeper's photos.