The exhibition “To Inspire and Instruct: Art from the Collection of the Chicago Public Schools,” on display at the Art Institute, includes a portable mural by Charles Freeman called “Characters from Children’s Literature.” In the museum’s Kraft Education Center, kids will find a similar mural with images from classics such as “Mother Goose” and “Alice in Wonderland.” But the large work of art also has lots of blank spaces just waiting to be filled in: Children can draw their own favorite characters from fairy tales or ones from more contemporary books such as “Where the Wild Things Are” or “Angelina Ballerina,” cut them out and add them to the mural’s world of make-believe. Mural Making, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through June 30 (except June 8), Kraft Education Center, Art Institute, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; $10 adults, $6 children; 312-443-3600.
— Nancy Maes
Bird Weekend
During the International Migratory Bird Weekend at River Trail Nature Center, families can listen to stories about our feathered friends, look for them and listen to them. On a walk in the woods kids can use binoculars to try to spot a cardinal or an oriole, a heron or a king fisher, and learn to identify birds by the ring of color around their eyes or the stripes on their wings. If they don’t see any birds in the wild, they can always take a look at the hawks, owls, and the falcon and eagle, who are permanent residents at the nature center. In another program, families can listen for songs that birds sing as mating calls or to mark their territories, such as the one of the towhee that sounds like “Drink your tea.” Fireside Tales, 7:30 p.m. Friday, $1, registration required; Birding for Fledgings, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, for ages 7-12, pre-registration required, free; Bird Song & Behavior, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, free, River Trail Nature Center, 3120 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook; 847-824-8360.
— Nancy Maes
Ferdinand fun
Enjoy a musical fantasy at Governors State University Saturday. Theatre Works USA will present “Ferdinand the Bull,” a musical adaptation of the story of a gentlemanly bull, who preferred smelling the flowers to charging and fighting. “Ferdinand the Bull” will be performed at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Center for the Performing Arts at Governors State University, Governors Highway and Stuenkel Road, University Park. $8; 708-235-2222.
— Pat Harper
Native games
Get your family to exercise by trying out Native American games at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville on Sunday. Native American children used things they found in the natural world to create games. While enjoying their games, the children also learned to be clever, quick and agile. Native American games begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Isle a la Cache Museum, 135th Street, east of Illinois Highway 53, Romeoville. $2; 815-886-1467.
— Pat Harper
