Cardboard-Tube Bird Feeders

To teach the children to make a bird feeder to help take care of creation

The children will learn a way to care for God's creation.

• One toilet-paper tube per child
• One 6-inch piece of yarn per child
• Hole punch
• Shortening (the kind used in baking)
• Birdseed
• A plastic tub in which to hold the birdseed as you roll the tube
• One sealable plastic bag per bird feeder, with each child's name written on it
• Large paper plates
• Plastic spoons

• Tell the children that they can do their part to help take care of God's creation by making bird feeders.
• Punch two holes in the top of the paper tube, thread the yarn through the top, and tie into a knot.
• Give each child a paper plate with a spoonful of shortening already on it.
• Ask the children to use the plastic spoons to spread the shortening all over the toilet paper tube.
• Instruct the children to roll the tube into the birdseed mixture, covering the tube completely.
• Place the birdseed-covered toilet paper tube into the sealable bag.
• Tell the children that they may take their feeders home and hang them on a tree.

Nature Smart

Prepare the paper plates with shortening on them before class.

If there are children in your group with special needs (physical, visual, hearing, language, or behavioral disabilities), adapt the activity accordingly.

Activity can be messy so prepare area with newspaper for easy cleanup.