by Polly Packer

MATERIALS

• Rubber duckies (or stress balls)
• 12, 3, 6, 9 cards
• Pictures of each of the poses
• Pictures of each animal (turtle, fish, frog, monkey, owl, elephant, ear, cat, cow, stork, camel,
  lizard)
• Chimes
• Yoga timer
• Sign that says “how do I feel as this animal?”
• Soft nature music with frogs, drums and guitar

SHORT DESCRIPTION/TOPIC
The concept of bridging everyone together is threaded throughout the lesson to remind the students that we are all like one-another in ways and have a common goal of peace, love and friendship. Little tokens of information about the connections that birds have will be incorporated throughout the class.

CONNECTING CIRCLE
Swim Ducky Swim – This is a 3-part breath. First, breath into the belly. Then to the rib cage and lastly, to
the heart. On the exhale, focus on releasing the breath from the heart, to the rib cage, then out through the
belly. Quiet Quests

POSES AS PATHWAYS
Eyes Around the Clock – Place 4 numbers (12,3,6,9) in the shape of a clock on the wall). Cuckoo
birds feed on insects and their favorite food is a hairy caterpillar. Imagine you are a cuckoo bird
looking for insects and caterpillars. Guide students on the inhale and exhale to look at the time
numbers on the clock moving clockwise. Ecological Echoes, Quiet Quest, Math Medley

Elephant Ears – Did you know that oxpeckers are one type of bird that land on elephants and feed
off the insects off their backs and bodies? This is called a symbiotic relationship, where both
animals benefit. Ecological Echoes

Moo and Meow – Inhale the right arm straight and extend the left leg out behind. Brain Balance

Chicken/Rooster or Charlie Parker’s “Bird” Walk – Birds have hollow bones that help them fly;
humans have 206 strong bones that help give us support. Ecological Echoes, Awesome Anatomy

Ragdoll – There is a breed of cats call the Ragdoll, and they are large, laid-back, semi long haired
cats with captivating blue eyes. Allow for the phalanges (toes) to lift up and down. Feel rooted in
the heels, legs, pelvis, torso, and shoulders. And bring your cranium (head) to the clouds!
Ecological Echoes, Awesome Anatomy

Roll-Ups – Show students how big an inch is using the ruler. The spine has 24 vertebrae, along
with 8-10 fused vertebrae in the sacrum: 5 (fused) and coccyx. Roll up the spine, one inch at a
time. Awesome Anatomy, Math Medley

Untying the Knots – Our muscles get very tight and sometimes painful if we spend too much time
on the computer or phone because we round our shoulders and drop our neck. Awesome
Anatomy

Shake like Jelly – Play with alliteration. Such as “Hehe goes the head,” “nice and easy to the
neck,” “sunny shoulders rise to the sky.” Laughing Language

Stork – Gaze at a focus friend for 3-5 breaths. Quiet Quest

Dromedary Delight – The ostrich is known as the camel-bird, for it looks so much like a camel!
The Ostrich is the largest bird in the world and the fast runners of any birds or other two-legged
animal and can sprint at over 43 miles (70 km) an hour. Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Down Diggity Doggie Down – Have one child come up with a unique bark and ask the rest of the
class to follow. Laughing Language

Up Uppity Doggie Up – Have your dog howl at the moon! A German Shepherd guide dog led her
blind companion the entire 2100 mile Appalachian Trail which spans from Springer Mountain in
Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Ecological Echoes, Math Medley, Poses as Pathways

Transformer Series (Lizard to Alligator) – Alligators and birds are part of the same larger group,
called archosaurs, which has existed for 250 million years and which has given rise not only to
birds and crocodilians, but also to dinosaurs. Ecological Echoes

Tree Frog– Frogs are a delicious treat for some birds to eat. Ecological Echoes

Talking Turtle

Bubble Fish

Seal

Monkey See Hear and Speak – Begin by counting the breath. Inhale up to five seconds and hold
for 2 seconds; exhale for 5 seconds. Students can use the rubber ducky to squeeze to release
tension. Quiet Quests

MUSICAL MUSINGS
Play nature music throughout the class.

VISUAL VIGNETTES
Write the following quote on a piece of paper for each student: “A bird does not sing because it has an
answer, it sings because it has a song.” Have the students draw a bird on their paper.

QUIET QUEST
Swim Ducky Swim

CLOSING CIRCLE
Fountains of Oms

LESSON OBJECTIVES

The students will make observations on size, familiarity and environment to determine which bird would have likely lived in my bird’s nest.

TOPICS

• Spring
• Birds
• Eggs
• Easter

MATERIALS

• Music player and prepared music
• Plastic Easter eggs with bird pictures in them
• Bird’s nest
• Plain plastic or wooden eggs
• Markers
• Crayons
• Stickers
• Egg shakers
• Song  – I am Like a Bird by Corrine Bailey Rae

CREATE THE MOOD

Give each student an egg shaker (maraca) when they enter. Have them walk around around shaking it to song I am Like a Bird. Then have them find a mat and sit down.

CONNECTING CIRCLE

I love this time of year. The days get warmer, I’m outside more, I can work in my garden. In spring all the trees start to sprout their leaves and flowers start to grow. I was working in my garden and I looked up and in my carport I saw a bird’s nest. I waited until it was empty and brought it down. I decided we would do yoga this week and see if we could figure out what type of bird built this nest. Let’s look at it. Look at its size, look at the inside. It’s also getting close to spring break and Easter is next weekend. I know at my house we’ll be coloring eggs this weekend. I have these plastic Easter eggs. Inside each egg is a picture of a bird. You’ll each get to choose and egg and open it. We’ll identify the bird, I’ll tell a few facts about it and we’ll decide if that bird lived in the nest in my garage. We’ll do a pose for each bird we see.

POSES AS PATHWAYS

Bird Wings(cardinal) – Sit Japanese style. Stretch your spine, neck and head toward the ceiling. Let your arms hang down by your sides. Flap arms up and down, stretching as you flap. Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Swan – Begin on your stomach. Bend your lower legs, pointing your toes toward the sky and glide your body forward. Lift your chest and lengthen your graceful neck, feel it open and stretch. You are a swan, sailing from side to side as you move smoothly through the water. Ecological Echoes, Body Benefits, Math Medley

Stork – Stand in Mountain. Breathe in and out stare at an object. This will help you balance. Bend your left knee and lift your left foot off the ground. Lift your arm and bend it at your elbow. Relax your wrist. Repeat on the other side. Body Benefits, Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Eagle -Begin in Mountain. Take a deep breath in and raise your arms up over your head. Sweep your arms down criss-crossing them. Twist your forearms together and bring your palms together in Namaste. Try to interlace your fingers or keep your palms together in a prayer position. Bend your knees, lift one leg and cross and wrap it around the other. Try to wrap your toes around the other ankle if you can, or place them down as a kickstand. Switch sides. Brain Balance, Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Flamingo – Begin in mountain pose. Spread your arms open like graceful wings, extend your leg straight back. Bend forward at the hips. Get your balance little by little, adjusting your arms and back leg. Focus your attention on something that isn’t moving. If you feel like flying, flap your wings. Do both sides. Body Benefits, Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Child’s Pose (robin) – Begin in Heel Sitting Pose. Separate your knees so your belly relaxes between your thighs. Bend at the hips and fold forward, let your shoulders drop down away from your ears and spine. Breathe into your back. Let your back soften from the breath so it feels boneless. This was my the bird in my nest. I saw the eggs. That’s why we are doing egg pose for the robin. Body Benefits, Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Pigeon Series – Begin in downward dog position. Bring your right knee forward and place it between your hands. Stretch your other leg back. Inhale. Lift your chest as you breathe in. Exhale. Tuck your chin. On your next exhalation, walk your hands and chest forward. If you can, come all the way to the floor. Walk your hands back toward your body until they are under your shoulders. Do other side. Body Benefits, Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Do one or the other depending upon the group: crow/ crow squats

Crow – Begin in mountain. Bend your knees and squat. Put your arms inside your bent legs and press your open hands into the floor. Lean slightly forward. Bend your elbows to make a shelf for your knees. Rise onto your tiptoes and put one knee on its shelf. Place the other knee on its shelf. You may only be able to balance one foot at a time in the beginning. Body Benefits, Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Crow Squats – Get with a partner. Stand face to face, holding each other’s wrists. Take a big breath, then lower into a squat as you breathe out. We All Win, Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Roadrunner – Begin on all fours. Pop your tail up into downward dog. Step one leg forward into lunge position. With your hands supporting you on the floor jump to switch legs, moving quickly like a roadrunner. Go Beep-beep. Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Penguin – Begin on your knees. Come to a standing knee pose. Reach back and grab your feet. Balance. See if you can take a step on your knees. Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Ostrich – Step your feet wide apart. Breathe in and reach both arms up. Exhale as you fold over. Place your hands on the floor or on your legs while you look through your legs. Ask your child why this pose is called Ostrich. (Answer: Ostriches sleep with their heads buried in the ground.) Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

360 Degree Owl – Roll your yoga mat to turn it into a branch. Bend your knees and perch on your branch. Sit as upright as you can. Tuck your arms behind you. Hold each elbow with the opposite hand. Turn your head slowly from side to side, eyes wide open. Brain Balance, Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

VISUAL VIGNETTE

I have these wooden eggs that you can each decorate. There are markers, crayons, stickers. You’ll get to take your egg home when you are done.

QUIET QUESTS

Savasana – Lie on your back, legs out, hands by your side, palms facing up. When I come around you can tell me if you want an eye pillow or not. Flying visualization, to visit each bird in its habitat. Start with cardinal, end with robin.