 Happy Valentine's Day, everyone, and welcome to the Winter Kids Page for February. Since February 14th is a celebration of love, this month's Kids Page is all about loving Jesus, loving one another and loving God's birds! Did you know, Valentine's Day is also not the only holiday in February ? We'll also be celebrating Black History Month. This month we remember our American heroes who led the fight against slavery and those who struggled for all people to have equal rights. We also remember all of the African American scientists and inventors whose knowledge and skill we still benefit from today. Also this month, we celebrate President Lincoln's birthday on the 12th and President's Day on the 20th, so we will cover something about each special day in this months Kids Page. Before we get to all of that, lets learn more about God's amazing birds! There are many things I love about birds. Here are some of my favorite facts about our feathered friends. 
Fun Facts
Did you know....
- The world's largest living bird is the ostrich. Ostriches stand about 8 feet tall and weigh 350 pounds. The smallest bird in the world is the Bee Hummingbird. It is only 2 inches long and weighs 7/100 of an ounce.
- The fastest creature in the world is the Peregrine Falcon. Peregrine Falcons can fly up to 220 mph when pursuing their prey.
- God designed birds to have unique beaks. Since the beak is the main tool used by birds to pick up, break apart and eat their food, each kind of bird must have a special kind of beak to eat their particular diet. Hummingbirds, for example, have long slender bills for extracting nectar from flowers. Birds of prey like hawks, eagles and owls have hooked beaks for tearing into meat. Seed eating birds like juncos and sparrows have special bills for hulling seeds. Woodpeckers have a unique 'chisel' like bill for hammering away at trees to find insects or make a nest. We use different utensils too ~ think of it ~ we use a fork for macaroni and cheese and a spoon to eat ice cream!
God Thought of It First! - If you have ever been to an air show, you've probably enjoyed the stunt planes as they dive and somersault in the air. But did you know that the Common Raven is an amazing flyer and can perform many amazing stunts including somersaults and barrel rolls?! That's right, God thought of it first!
Activity: Winter Feeding Science Experiment This month, I would like to share with you an easy and fun science experiment that has to do with winter bird feeding. Certain birds prefer certain types of food. This experiment is a good way to find out what the birds in your area like to eat. God wants us to be good stewards of His world. With this experiment, you can be a researching scientist and help take good care of the birds that God created. Here is how it works: 1. First of all, you need to decide what foods you want to experiment with. For example, you may want to try peanuts, sunflower seed, corn and millet for your experiment. You can also experiment with varieties of suet or peanut butter dough recipes in this way. 2. Once you have decided what foods you are going to use in your experiment and how many varieties of foods you are going to try, its time to make your feeding station. A great and simple feeding station that will give each type of food equal exposure to the birds is a simple wood board nailed on a short post or deck railing with clean margarine or yogurt tubs attached to it for holding each type of food. Ask your parents to help you build this feeding station. You should have as many tubs as the individual foods you are going to try. Each tub should be very clean and short with a wide opening (if they have high sides or small openings the birds won't be able to reach the food.) Each cup should be the same size and shape so nothing effects your experiment (example ~ if you used one short and one tall tub, you may not get accurate information on how much the birds like the food as they may only use the tub that is easiest to eat from. Using the same size clean tubs is important.) 
3. Once you have your feeding station in place and your experiment foods chosen, you can begin your experiment. Measure out a half cup to a cup of each kind of food into a container by itself (don't mix the foods). Each kind of food needs to be available at the same time for birds to see their options and choose what they like best. 4. After you have made the food available, you can observe the birds. Make a habit of watching the birds at the same time every day for accuracy. (To maximize your chances at seeing the birds, keep in mind that feeder activity is heaviest at dawn in the morning and just before dusk in the evening. Try to watch as close to these times as possible.) 
5. At the same time each day, check to see how much food has been eaten out of each tub. Re-measuring it each day is the most accurate way to do this. You can use a ruler to measure the level of food in the the tub. 5. Record your findings ~ its important to write down your observations including: date and time of observation, what birds are eating what food, how much is getting eaten, weather conditions and temperature. All of these factors are important and may show you why one food is preferred over another. (For example, the birds may go for a higher calorie food on a colder day than on a warmer day. If no explanation can be offered after you observe the birds, then the birds just like that food better than another.) Write down any other interesting things you notice. I have created a chart that is easy to use to record your data. You can also use a notebook to log extra information that does not fit on the chart. The chart is a free PDF that you can print. You will most likely need more than one of these charts. 
6. Doing this experiment over a month's time will give you a good idea as to what the birds in your area like to eat. When you have finished your experiment, you can adjust what you offer in your feeders accordingly and have very happy feathered friends! You can experiment with as many different foods as you would like. Special Recipes of the Month February's special recipes include a winter warm-you-up hot cocoa with marshmallows and a fun Valentines treat that is great for saying "I love you!" for your family and friends. I know you will love these recipes, no experimenting needed! 
Cocoa and Marshmallows
Ingredients:
regular hot chocolate mix
non fat milk
mini marshmallows
Directions:
Make hot cocoa according to package directions. Float mini marshmallows on top of your cocoa. Save plenty of marshmallows for this next treat which is perfect to go with your hot chocolate!
Heart-shaped Rice Crispy Treats
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz. ~ about 40) regular marshmallows or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups rice cereal (regular, cocoa or fruit flavored ~ your choice)
pink and red sprinkles and candies (your favorite ~ I love mini M&Ms)
A white baking chocolate bar (to melt and drizzle or spread over your rice crispy treats)
non-stick cooking spray
You will also need:
A parent or adult helper
A heart-shaped cookie or cupcake pan
cookie sticks (if you are using a cookie pan for cookies on a stick) 
Directions:
Step 1. In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
Step 2. Add rice cereal. Mix well until fully combined. (If desired, you can add your candy pieces after the rice at this stage and mix all together or save your candy pieces to sprinkle on top.)
Step 3. Spray your pan with non-stick cooking spray. Press the warm mixture into your heart shaped cookie or cupcake pan. If using a pan for cookies on a stick ~ insert the stick into each treat.
Step 4. Carefully, melt the white chocolate baking bar in a double boiler, microwave or chocolate melting pot. Drizzle or spread over each rice crispy treat. Sprinkle red and pink sprinkles over the white chocolate. If you decide, sprinkle your favorite candy pieces (like mini M&Ms) over the white chocolate as well. This should be done before the white chocolate hardens.
Step 5: Refrigerate until hardened. Then enjoy! These make great valentines and party favor treats if wrapped in cellophane bags and tied with ribbon. These treats are even better when shared with those you love! Click here for pictures to show you how its done ! This is a really fun recipe that kids can really get into ! 
Colored Snow Activity
January through March is when we get most of our snow here in the Pacific Northwest. A really fun activity that my sister and I used to do when we were kids was to draw crazy patterns in the snow with water that our Mom had colored with food coloring. She put the colored water in squirt bottles for us. We had a lot of fun with it and I know you will too!
What you need:
water
various colors of liquid food coloring
squirt bottles
snow on the ground! |
What you do:
Simply fill squirt bottles (like condiment bottles) with water. Add your favorite color of food coloring to the water in the squirt bottle. Add a few drops at a time until it reaches the desired color. Shake it up to make sure it is well mixed.
Use this colored water to squirt on the snow in fun patterns. You can even write words in the snow. Making more than one color is even more fun. Enjoy!
Recommended Reading
While you're sipping cocoa and munching on rice crispy treats (YUM!) ~ sit down to enjoy the books on this months recommended reading list.
Marvels of Creation: Breathtaking Birds by, Buddy and Kay Davis
This wonderful book that is full of amazing facts and information on a variety of different birds from around the world. The ostrich and common raven are among the many featured birds. This book is refreshingly different from other bird and nature books in that it carries the straight forward message that God created the earth and everything in it. It is a shining example that preaches the Gospel amongst so many books that teach false ideas of how the universe originated. This book was of great encouragement even to me, to see others also speaking the truth that God created everything and pointing people to the Bible and the true story of Genesis. I would recommend this book for anyone to read. The book contains beautiful full page photographs.
Since this month is Black History Month, The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles is a beautiful tribute to Ruby Bridges, one of the four little girls who were the first black children to go to a white elementary schools in the South, back in 1960. This book is a story of Ruby Bridges' experiences and perseverance in the face of great difficulties and persecution. One of the main features of the book is a prayer that Ruby Bridges prayed everyday, before and after school. It is a prayer of love and forgiveness. This is an amazing story that I would recommend for everyone to read.
Because I Love You by Max Lucado is a beautiful children's story about God's love for all of His children. It teaches that God loves us so much that He wants us to stay with Him because we want a relationship with Him and that we are never forced to. It warns of the dangers of the world outside of God's loving provision for each of His children. It also shows how God will forgive and bring each one of us back to Him when we have gone astray. He answers before we even call. This is a wonderful story, a great book for anyone to read. 
Just the Way You Are by Max Lucado is a wonderful children's story that teaches how God loves us just the way we are and wants us to be His children, even if we don't feel as smart or talented as someone else. The story is about five orphans who learn that a generous King wants to adopt them. Four of the five orphans are very gifted and talented and set about preparing gifts that they can offer the King. The other orphan, though, thinks that she has nothing to give. The lesson she learns is that the King just wants her to be His child and that He loves her just the way she is. I would recommend this book for anyone to read.
You Are Special by Max Lucado is all about God's love for all of us, no matter what other people think. The story is about the 'Wemmicks' ~ little wooden people who like to stick star and dot stickers on one another to show each other approval or disapproval. One wemmick named Punchinello can never do anything right and has dots stuck all over him! Soon he meets a wemmick with no stickers and learns that only what the Master Wood Carver thinks matters, not the 'stickers' that other people put on him. Punchinello learns that his Maker thinks that he's pretty special! This is a great story for anyone who wants to find out what God thinks about them!
I'd Choose You by John Trent is a funny and very meaningful children's story about a little elephant named Norbert who has a very bad day at school. Nobody wants to pick Norbert to do anything fun and he comes home feeling very sad. As he explains his woes to his mother, she reassures him that she loves him and so does his Dad. Most of all, Norbert learns that God loves him. He learns that God and his parents will always choose him, even if others don't. This is a great story that instills confidence and security in your children, letting them know that you and God will always choose them!
Activity Pages and Valentines
This month I have created a coloring page and a fun activity for kids about the Black-capped Chickadee. In this free PDF you will also find a special project to make your own valentines for your family and friends. Just click on the activities button below!
Black History Month Trivia Game 
For Black History Month, I've created a fun trivia game full of interesting facts about some of our great American heroes and African American inventors in our nations history. Some of these people were my favorites to learn about when my sister and I were in school. Simply read the questions below and once you have answered all of them, click on the link below to reveal the answers to see how many you got right! You get ten points for each question you answer correctly for a possible 100 points ! Try the Bonus questions too and get an extra 20 points each for your extra effort for a total of 140 points ! 1. When did Black History Month start ? 2. Which plants did George Washington Carver study and use to discover the many things that could be made from them ? 3. Who invented and patented a way to make mowing lawns easier ? Bonus Question: What were his improvements ? 4. Who invented the wooden golf tee ? 5. What is an abolitionist ? 6. What was Harriet Tubman's favorite bird ? 7. Who was the first person to prove that insects could hear ? 8. Augustus Jackson invented recipes for a very popular treat that I'm sure you enjoy with your family. What is the name of this treat ? 9. Which President issued the Emancipation Proclamation ? Bonus Question: What is the Emancipation Proclamation and why was it important ? 10. When was slavery officially made illegal in the United States ?
President's Day and President Lincoln's Birthday
President's Day is on the 20th of February and President Lincoln's Birthday is on the 12th of this month, so I've dug up some fun facts about our Presidents, our First Ladies and how the gardens at the White House were planned, designed and constructed.
Did you know....
- At least seven U.S. Presidents were farmers before they became President of The United States of America. These include Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Truman and Carter. Other Presidents like Abraham Lincoln grew up on a farm.
- President Wilson's wife, Ellen Wilson, was the First Lady who started the White House Rose Garden in 1913. Today the White House Rose Garden still has many types of roses in addition to Magnolias and Katherine Crabapple Trees.
- President John Adams was the first president to live in the White House and gave direction to plant the first White House Garden. It was President George Washington's original idea for the White House to have a botanical garden but because he never lived at the White House, his idea came to be much later.
- President John Quincy Adams loved gardening. In fact, he planted a lot of young fruit trees, herbs and vegetables in the White House Gardens himself.
- President and Mrs. Johnson's contribution to the White House Gardens was to add the Children's Garden in 1968. The garden is still there today and includes a goldfish pond, small rod-iron furniture, various flowers and an apple tree that is strong enough for kids to climb on. There are also hand imprints of a few President's children and grandchildren imprinted into the garden walkway.
- First Lady Michelle Obama was the first to install a White House Vegetable Garden on the South Lawn of the White House since First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted the Victory Garden back in the 1940's. Planted in 2009, the new White House Vegetable Garden is all organic and is part of First Lady Obama's "Let's Move" initiative to promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle. The garden continues to grow each year. Last year, the White House staff gave the garden a neater look by using raised beds. They also increased the garden's size to 1,500 square feet which includes 34 raised beds for planting. In addition, the White House Garden has been expanded to include hoop house greenhouses so that the First Family can continue to enjoy homegrown vegetables even in winter. The White House Vegetable Garden contains many types of vegetables, herbs and even berries.
Spelling and Vocabulary List The February spelling list comes from some of the words I have used both in the Winter Bird Feeding Science Experiment and the Black History Month Trivia Game. You can increase your vocabulary and spelling skills with the following list: data, accurate (accuracy), calorie, experiment, steward, inventor, abolitionist, emancipation, scientist, zoologist, rotary
Memory Verse
This month's memory verse is John 3:16 ICB, which says,
"For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son. God gave His Son so that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but have eternal life."
God loves each one of us so much. He sent His Son to die on the cross so that we can be forgiven for all the wrong things we have done. He wants us to come to Him and receive Jesus as our Savior by asking Him to come into our hearts. Remember this Valentines Day and everyday, Jesus loves you!
Thank you for joining me for the February Winter Kids Page. I hope you have a very Happy Valentines Day! Join me next month for an exciting new page that is all about the wonder of spring!
By, Jessi Wasell
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