The Cuckoo “The Cuckoo” is a lesser-known nursery rhyme with beauty and simplicity in its language and theme. In the video, Miss Natalie teaches the rhyme to Frances as she helps her slip on her wings. The transformative power of imagination is easy to see; Frances becomes a bird for the rest of the video. She teaches the other children how to fly as they play a game of “flocking,” a gentle and elegant form of follow-the-leader. We suggest teaching this rhyme in the springtime when birds are abundant and busy. All About Birds Birds are intriguing animals; of course we are fascinated by them. Light-bodied, with feathery wings and hollow bones…they fly! With their beaks and claws they hunt for insects, worms, moths, caterpillars, fish, crabs, mice, snakes, seeds, and berries. They build nests from twigs, bits of grass, leaves, and mud. They live alongside us, sometimes making their homes in tree branches or hollows, in barn rafters, and in the nooks and crannies of our houses. Ask your children if they have ever seen a bird’s nest. Maybe there is one in your schoolyard. If you find an abandoned bird’s nest, bring it in for the children to investigate. Migration Many birds migrate to warmer places for the winter months. Ask your children why birds might need to change where they live during the chilly seasons. Birds travel great distances to escape the cold in order to survive. They often make their long journey in large groups called “flocks.” If it is springtime, your children can look for the arrival of new birds and listen for the sound of birdsongs, especially at dawn and dusk. Feed the Birds Since migrating birds are on the move this time of year, it’s the perfect moment to hang a bird feeder outside your classroom window to observe the variety of birds in your zone. Migrating birds are hungry from their long journeys. If you feed the birds, you can help them recover and keep up their strength as they fly to their warm weather homes. Teach your children the names of the birds and how to recognize their calls. Make a little book or a big chart to remember the ones you have spotted. Hatchlings and Fledglings By studying the life cycle of birds, children will learn many new words. Birds lay eggs and keep their “nestlings” warm with the heat of their bodies. That period of time is called “incubation.” It ends when the baby birds grow large enough to peck their way out of their protective shells. They “hatch.” The parent birds bring food to the nest for the new “hatchlings” until they are strong enough to fly. And while they are learning to fly, we call them “fledglings.” Some birds will have more than one “brood” (group of babies) during a season. When children grow up and leave home, we call it “leaving the nest” and parents are left with an “empty nest.” Up With the Birds There are more colorful bird themed expressions to learn: “a little bird told me,” “birds of a feather flock together,” “the early bird gets the worm,” “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” “a bird’s eye view,” “free as a bird,” “a night owl,” “the dawn chorus,” and “up with the birds.” Bird Names Our planet is teeming with life. There are tens of thousands of species of birds in the world, the cuckoo is just one. Learn the names of other birds with your children. Here are some examples: robin, crow, eagle, sparrow, dove, finch, duck, goose, stork, woodpecker, loon, pelican, crane, owl, ostrich, seagull, canary, blue jay, turkey, swan, hawk, goldfinch, flamingo, and so many more. When to Whisper In the music video, The Cuckoo carries “good tidings” and whispers them into Mother Goose’s ear. Children should know there are times when whispering is preferred. Speaking in a quiet voice is best when we need to be respectful (such as in a library, a museum, a theatre, a hospital, or a place of worship like a synagogue, mosque, or church). We lower our voices when a frightened animal is near. If we don’t want to wake the baby from their nap, we whisper. We use different voices for different purposes and situations. A Whispering Game You can play a whispering game with your children. While sitting in circle-time, think of a simple phrase such as “the days are getting warmer” and whisper it to the child sitting next to you. Encourage them to pass it on to the child next to them, and so on. When it returns to you, say it aloud and then tell the class your original phrase. Invariably, the message has been altered by its journey around the full circle. Children will learn that this is why rumors can’t be trusted! “The Cuckoo” and its central theme of birds will pair well with another Cabinet of Wonder poem, “Mary Had a Pretty Bird.”