I giorni della merla

(The last three days of January)

The creative workshop for children on the “Giorni della Merla” involves the construction of small feeders for birds made from orange peel.
It is a fun and educational activity that helps to develop the creativity and environmental awareness of children.

Performance

During this workshop, children learn to work in teams and be creative using the tools and materials available to them. They also learn the importance of sustainability and environmental care through the reuse of natural materials such as orange peel.
This activity is an excellent opportunity for children to develop their creativity, dexterity and environmental awareness, also learning to take care of animals and nature. In addition, through the playful and fun approach, children also learn to appreciate the traditions and the Italian popular culture of the “Giorni della Merla”.
The workshop is split into two parts: the first narrative and the second manual.

The legend
This first part begins with the story of the tradition of the “Giorni della Merla” and a reflection on the importance of feeding the birds during the winter, when food resources are scarce.

Construction
The children are then invited to collect the orange peel, which will be used to build the feeders and guided in the creation using the simple instructions provided to them.
The construction involves the use of wires to hang small artifacts and scissors to obtain the passage holes of the supporting wires. It begins by digging with a spoon the oranges cut in half in order to obtain small containers that will be transformed into feeders.
Once the preparation is finished, the small feeders will be filled with feed based on sunflower seeds, flax or fruit mixed with animal fat or peanut butter.

Layout
Once finished the preparation, the children will choose where to hang the small feeders for the birds looking for places possibly not hidden by leaves and high enough so that the birds can easily find them and feel safe approaching.