Players Needed: At least 1 adult for supervision, direction and assistance during the course of
craft project
Materials Needed:
1 Large Pinecone
Peanut Butter (smooth)
Mixed Bird Seed
Spoon or Spatula
Pan or bowl
Yarn, Twine or Ribbon
Steps:
- Have an adult tie the yarn/twine as best as they can around the top or bottom of
cone. When tying, try and slide string/twine between pinecone bracts (pinecone
leaves) approximately 2-3 bracts down (so as to have the string as secure as
possible near the core of the pinecone). Tie this base knot tightly and then tie another knot with the leftover loose
ends so as to create a looped hanger.
- Have adult pour some of the birdseed into the bowl or pan.
- Instruct child(ren) to take a spoon or spatula and begin spreading the peanut
butter on their cone.
- Child should spread ample amount of peanut butter on their cone to create a
nice, tacky surface for the birdseed to stick to.
- Have child roll peanut butter coated cone around in the poured birdseed (ensure
that no sticky peanut butter is left exposed).
- Once pinecone has been covered to each child’s satisfaction, place pinecone in fridge and allow the peanut butter to set for
30 minutes.
- While waiting for the peanut butter to set, go outside and allow child to pick a
location for their bird feeder. A tree branch or other location where the pine
cone can hang freely will be suitable. You can discuss the merits of different
locations.
- Once the 30 minutes is up, take your pinecone outside and hang it in your
preselected location.
- Spend quality time with child watching birds snack on the new feeder and try to
help child identify which bird species have come to snack (by taking notes on
paper or by memory) so adult and child can later read details about the bird
from their local library and reference materials.
