My kids are 4 and 3, I'm looking for a simple and easy way to build a birdhouse and or bird feeder with them?

Any ideas?My kids are 4 and 3, I'm looking for a simple and easy way to build a birdhouse and or bird feeder with them?
Make a pinecone bird feeder! My preschool students love making these and they can do it with little help!





Get a pinecone and tie a long string to the top. Roll it or spread vegetable shortening or lard (Crisco works well) on the pinecone. You can then roll it in birdseed, cornmeal or uncooked oats (cover it well). You can also use chopped up dried fruit, chopped nuts, seeds (Birds love sunflower seeds!). Hang it on a tree outdoors and watch the birds come!





Here are some steps to take and pictures of how it may look http://www.enviro-explorers.com/pinecone鈥?/a>





Have fun!My kids are 4 and 3, I'm looking for a simple and easy way to build a birdhouse and or bird feeder with them?
DLTK's Crafts for Kids


Bird House Craft; Materials:


3 boxes 1 large box (roughly square) to make the roof


1 slightly smaller box for the walls and floor


1 chocolate box for the base





cardboard roll from paper towel or gift wrap


scissors or utility knife


tape (preferably packing tape or masking tape as opposed to scotch tape.)


OPTIONAL: String to hang the house instead of the third box and paper towel roll.


OPTIONAL: Paint


Instructions:


Begin with the larger box. We used a box from mandarin oranges. Cut out two sides or the top flap and one side keeping the corner intact. The idea is that the fold between the two sides will become the peak of the bird house.





Take the second box and cut it to form the walls. We let Kaitlyn draw the size of the hole she wanted for her bird house and then cut that out as well.





Tape the roof to the second box. Depending on how big the hole is you may be able to reach in and tape it from the inside.





Tape the paper towel roll to the bottom of the bird house.





Cut a small 'X' in the lid of the third box about the same size as the paper towel roll.





Slide the paper towel roll through this 'X' in the lid and then tape it to keep it standing. As you can see from the picture, Darren did not scrimp on the tape and he managed to make it strong enough to stand up on its own.





OPTIONAL: You could use string to hang the house as an alternative to the stand.





OPTIONAL: Paint the bird house and stand.
What you need:





Empty rinsed out milk carton - quart or individual size


Construction paper


Moss or Excelisor (fake moss) both at craft stores


Artificial flowers and greenery


Little sticks from your yard


Scissors


Tacky Glue


Hot Glue


Stapler


Little bird (optional - also found at craft store)


Ribbon or Christmas Ornament hanger (optional)


What you do:





First staple shut the top of the carton. If this is a quart carton, cut about 1/3 off the sides and get rid of bottom. Fold the front and back to form a new bottom. Be sure to crease where you fold and glue.


Pick brown, tan, or shade of green construction paper. First cut the paper to cover the top (roof line) sides and bottom. Glue on with tacky glue. Cut paper to cover front and back. Glue with tacky glue. Draw a circle for the door on the front. Carefully poke a hole and use scissors to cut out hole.


Take the Moss (Excelsior works better**) and form to fit one side of the roof. When you have the size right, glue on with hot glue. Continue the same to the rest of the roof, back and sides. When you prepare the front be sure not to cover up the hole! Do not glue any on the bottom.


Next take your little sticks (twigs) from your yard. They will lay across the roof. Cut them to fit. They can be alittle bend. They don't all have to be straight. Hot glue these on the roof. Glue the thickest one on the top of the roof. Take one stick and poke a hole beneath your door. This will be the perch.


Take your greenery and cut little clusters or single leaves off. Place these where ever you want, just not too many. Hot glue these on. They can even be put on the roof.


Now do the same with the flowers. Try to cover up leaf stems with flowers. Again, don't use too many. Cover up flower stems with a single leaf and tuck under flower a little.


If you bought the little bird, hot glue his little feet to the stick perch or put him peeking out the door. Or even on the ROOF! Maybe get Mom and Dad birds.








If mom has a inside tree or a good place to hang this house. Poke a hole in the top of the roof and thread through the ribbon or use the ornament hanger.





It took me about an hour to make this with a small single size milk carton. I took more time trying different places for the leaves and flowers than anything else!
Instead of building a birdhouse I would buy an already made one at Michael's or another craft store and paint it. That's what I did with my kids and it was really fun. I've also taken a plain birdhouse and covered it in peanutbutter and birdseed and the birds loved that.
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-cra鈥?/a>


http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-cra鈥?/a>
You could try using Popsicle sticks and Elmer's glue, it washes off with warm water, and paint, some nice bright spring colors preferably. Or buy a simple kit.
They have some really cool ones that are crafts at stores like Michaels...I have seen all sorts of stuff like that there.
have you checked a craft store? normally they have simple kits to make them