Big heart month is here, so it’s time to share the love with our feathered friends. Here is a Simple 10-Step Heart-Shaped Bird Feeder to make.
My grandmother (“Gutie”) loved birds and fed them crumbs collected on an old pie pan. Many times, I accompanied her on the feedings and we’d stand back and be still to see which birds would come to the feast. Gutie even told me about the kinds of birds that they were and sometimes the songs they would sing. I remember her telling me that a cardinal’s song is like someone trying to start their car and that the chickadee’s song always calls you “sweetie” (I’ve included a great website to go to learn about bird songs below).
Also, as a young one, I loved the movie “Mary Poppins” (still do today). The song “Feed the birds, tuppence a bag. Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag,” popped into my memory and I started singing it while creating this heart bird feeder.
So sometimes, when making a craft, you step back in time (“Step in Time” is another favorite Mary Poppins song) and revisit your fond memories from your childhood. Have fun and enjoy this time creating a bird feeder for our feathered friends. I also included learning exercises to go along with the steps of the process.
Step 1: Gather all of your materials.
Learning: Count how many items you have or count by 2’s or 5’s.
Step 2: Find the piece of cardboard that works for you and either trace or design your own heart with a marker.
Learning: Talk about how the heart pumps blood (such as this one, at YouTube).
Step 3: Cut the heart shapes out, and about an inch from the edge, make a hole with a paper punch or a knife if the cardboard is too thick.
Learning: Mark off 1 inch with the ruler or tape measure.
Step 4: Cut the ribbon or twine about 24 inches and thread through the hole made and tie a knot at the top with now both pieces of ribbon.
Learning: Measure 24 inches with a ruler or tape measure or ask how many feet in 24 inches.
Step 5: Using your knife, spread a big glob of peanut butter or other butter to one side of the heart then turn over and do the same to the other side. [Note: for children with peanut allergies, use plain old butter.]
Learning: What ingredients are needed to make peanut butter or butter?
Step 6: Pour the birdseed into your pan with sides (necessity).
Learning: Have some apples cut up so your children can spread on some peanut butter and eat the apples instead of the birdseed. Ask what else is good with peanut butter?
Step 7: Press 1 buttered side into the birdseed and then turn over and do the other side.
Learning: Talk about how do birds eat. Do they eat like you?
Step 8: Fill in any areas that need more peanut butter or seeds.
Learning: Ask what facts do you already know about birds?
Step 9: Locate the perfect place to hang your heart bird feeder (look for a branch or something for the bird to stand on while nibbling at the feeder).
Learning: Discuss the predators of the birds.
Step 10: Finally wait for the birds to come to the feast you created.
Learning: Identify the birds that come to your feeder and listen for their songs.
Brenda Boschee Dronen is a mom, grandmother, educational consultant in reading, a retired elementary teacher of 33 years and a lover of the great outdoors. Watch for her creative crafts surrounding the great outdoors and how you can enrich your children’s lives.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
