​FOR THE BIRDS

Inspiration for the Birdhouse Project

Chinese people have a unique hobby. Like you take your dogs to the park, many Chinese take their birds in cages to go to the park. They hang the cages on a tree and let their birds interact with other birds while they chat with their friends. These birds bring joy to their owners and become part of the family.

I shared a story with my team about being a volunteer at the Hospice of Dayton. Many of my patients told me how much they enjoyed watching the birds playing outside their windows. It brought comfort and joy to the end of their lives. There was a 93 year-old volunteer who hand-made birdhouses and hung them outside each patient’s windows. Sometimes after a patient passed away, the family asked whether they could keep the birdhouse to remember their loved one. This old man was always happy to give the birdhouse to the family and then built another one to replace it. This gentleman passed away a few years ago. I thought maybe our students can make birdhouses for other people and bring joy to their lives too.

I thank my 9th grade team to let me share my culture, listen to my story, and try to make this bird house project possible.

-Dr. Maan Broadstock, Chinese Instructor, Dayton Regional STEM School