1 birds feeder

Contract number: 2015-1114/001-001

BIRDS FEEDER

Picture taken from Pinterest

Materials required o

A clean plastic bottle.

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Paint appropriated for painting plastic surfaces.

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Foam brush.

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An awl.

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A utility knife.

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Scissors.

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A piece of twine approximately 80 centimeters long (31.5 inches).

Degree of difficulty Medium, appropriate for children of any age, but for those younger than 14 it is better to take adults’ help.

Approximate time required 60 minutes.

Contract number: 2015-1114/001-001

Learning goals Learn how to make use of empty plastic bottles and create nature-friendly art.

Abilities developed Accuracy, creativity, spatial perception, drawing, fine motor skills and team working.

Step-by-step instructions 1. Start off by cutting away, with the help of a utility knife, the middle area of the bottle, depending on whether you would like a taller or shorter bird feeder. Be careful as the knife is extremely sharp. You can do initial cut with the help of it and then continue with scissors.

2. In the bottom part of the bottle, cut out an opening to serve as the door. The same, start off with the utility knife and then better continue with scissors.

Contract number: 2015-1114/001-001

3. Drill two small opposite holes with an awl in both upper and bottom parts of the bottle for passing a twine through it. Be careful using an awl.

4. Start painting the parts of the bottle using a foam brush and appropriate paint.

Keep adding layers until the parts are well covered. Obviously, make sure that you allow each layer to dry well before painting a new layer over it. You can add some patterns and figures, e.g. flowers, stars, sun, clouds, etc.

5. Pass a twine across the top part of the bottle through little holes.

Contract number: 2015-1114/001-001

6. Place the top of the bottle on the bottom part so that the holes for twine coincide vertically but not horizontally and push each end of the twine through corresponding hole in the bottom part.

7. Take off the lid of the bottle and make two little holes on the top as well with the help of the awl. Put the lid back on the bottle. Be careful using the awl.

8. Tighten the twine and make a knot. You should pass the rest of the twine through the holes in the lid. Later, you can hang the feeder with this twine to the tree or whatever you like.

Contract number: 2015-1114/001-001

Finally, you can add some additional decorative touches, for example add some raffia, to make the house feeder look more similar to a real house. When making holes in the bottle using an awl, children need to be very careful. It is even better that adults do this in order to avoid injuries. The same happens for working with a utility knife. The more advanced feeder can be constructed by adding a bar in the bottom of the feeder for the birds to sit on it. It can be done by making additional opposite pair of holes perpendicularly to the “door� directly under it and passing through these holes for example Chinese stick or a pencil.