nature

Earth Day Bird Feeder

earth day bird feeder

 

Backyard birdfeeders made of natural materials was an inspiration to draw more birds to our yard this year. Wanting a quick and easy idea, we decided to go for all natural ingredients.


momstown had heard of many feeders using peanut butter as the base, but with an allergic chold it wasn’t usable for us. Instead we used plain on butter to stick the birdseed to.


•    Pinecone
•    Butter/Margarine (or peanut butter)
•    Birdseed (sold anywhere, Dollar store even)
•    Ribbon or string for hanging


Cut the string to the length needed to hang and tie onto the pinecone. Do this first before spreading butter otherwise it’s almost impossible to do it later.


Spread the butter onto the pinecone very liberally. It needs a good coat and inbetween the pinecone branches, this way it will trap more birdseed. Spreading the butter is great fun for the younger crowd, there’s no real way to do this wrong so let them spread independently!


Sprinkle birdseed on a flat surface, like a pie plate, and roll the buttered pinecone in it until well covered. Make sure the birdseed is well pressed onto the pinecone.


Hang your pinecone birdfeeder in a spot your child thinks will draw lots of birds. Being able to see the feeder from the window will add to the delight, especially from the breakfast table!

 

This bird seed cookie recipe is another fun way to create a a bird feeder too!

Posted by momstown mama on 04/02/2013 - 17:33
Labels:
ShareThis share this post

Little Scientist- Making Birdseed Bird Feeder with Kids

momstown Mississauga moms and kids met this month to make Birdseed Cookies at our Little Scientists program.  Little Scientists is a monthly program where we discover science principals and learn about how things work.

 
This month since it is the coldest part of winter we decided to feed our feathered friends and make Birdseed Cookies. We talked about what kinds of birds are around in the  winter in Ontario and our scientists coloured some bird pictures while we were waiting for the moms to melt the ingredients together on the stove.  For other bird crafts, check here.

 
Here's the recipe we used to make the Birdseed Cookies. Be aware of where you hang these cookies as the squirrels love to eat them too!

 

birdseed cookie recipe

 

Ingredients
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons corn syrup 
1  packet plain gelatin
3/4 cup  flour
4 cups birdseed ( we used a mix based on the types of birds in our Mississauga backyards)

 

Other Things You'll Need
String 
Cookie sheet
Spatula 
Cookie cutters
Waxed paper
Cooling rack
Non-stick cooking spray

 

Spray inside the cookie cutters with non-stick cooking spray and place them on waxed paper on top of a cookie sheet. Set aside.

 

In a large non-stick pan, bring water and corn syrup to a gentle boil. 

 

Remove pan from heat and stir in gelatin to dissolve

 

Put flour into large mixing bowl, stir in hot liquid mixture until this forms a paste. Add hot water bit by bit to thin the mix into a thick batter consistency. 

 

Quickly stir in bird seed and mix well until all the "glue" is evenly distributed among the seeds.

 

While mixture is  warm fill  cookie cutters  with the birdseed, pressing firmly. It is important to press the mixture firmly to create a hard block of seed.

 

I've found the simpler the pattern of the cookie cutter, the easier it is.  We used hearts. 

 

After a minute or two gently shake the cookie cutters to release the shapes, and fill again. Recipe makes 8 - 10 depending on size of cookie cutter. 

 

After a few minutes using a wooden skewer, gently make a hole in the cookie all the way through. 

 

Once dry ( overnight ) cut out large pieces of twine to make hangers for the cookies, then hang them outdoors and watch for birds!

Posted by momstown team on 01/21/2013 - 11:13
Labels:
ShareThis share this post

"Leaf Man" Inspired Craft for Kids

This paper bag leaf man puppet is an easy craft that preschoolers and even toddlers can make almost entirely on their own. It was inspired by a perfect fall day: a leaf hunt where we gathered a bag full of all sorts of different types of red, orange, yellow, brown, and burgundy leaves, followed by a cozy story time where we read "Leaf Man" by Lois Ehlert. After snacks, we were ready to create leaf men of our own.

 

 

Leaf Man is on many lists of the best fall books for preschoolers, and with good reason. It is one of those unique children's books that works on every level. The text tells a captivating story of journey that "Leaf Man" (a leaf) takes as he blows in the wind. As Leaf Man travels, kids learn to identify the sights and signs of fall, from fields of pumpkins to forests of red, yellow, and orange, to geese migrating south for winter. The words are simple but lyrical, with a regular refrain that "a Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows" which kids quickly pick up on and are able to join in on as you read.

 

As engaging as the text of the book is, it is even more visually stunning. Each picture in the book is a collage made of various leaves. Maple, catalpa, ginko leaves and more are arranged to take the shape of different animals and objects. The pages are also die cut. adding additional textures and shapes to the story. This is the sort of book that both kids and adults pour over, discovering something new everytime they look at it. What is more, the book is educational. The book also includes a field guide to leaves. Pictures of a variety of different leaves are labelled with the names of the trees from which they originate, allowing kids to identify the types of leaves that they are able to find in their own neighbourhoods.

 

Head out on your own fall leaf hunt, use the book to identify the leaves you have found, and then make an easy "Leaf Man" puppet to take on an autumn adventure.

 

 

Here's what you need to do to make a Leaf Man puppet of your own:

 

  • a paper bag
  • leaves in various shapes and colours
  • glue
  • googlie eyes
  • tissue paper scraps or other embellishments

 

1. Glue a leaf on the bottom flap of the bag to form your puppet’s face. 

 

2. Glue on additional leaves to make your puppet’s arms, legs and any other features.

 

3. Add googlie eyes, and scraps of tissue paper to create any additional details such as buttons or a nose.  We used cut up foam alphabet stickers for our mouths, but rolled tissue paper or all sorts of other things could work too.

 

The neat part about this craft is that your leaf man is a bit of a science experiment too.  He will change in appearance as the leaves you have used dry out.  Here is our leaf man after a day:

 

 

Posted by momstown Teach on 10/08/2012 - 14:06
Labels:
ShareThis share this post

Valentine's heart bird feeder craft

It is a traditional belief or story that on Valentine's Day the birds find their mates. They have to hook up early in the year to make sure the children will be strong before the fall arrives.

What better Valentine gift can we give our bird friends than to give them some extra energy this winter? Make some suet cakes for your birds. You will attract western bluebirds, chickadees, jays, towhees, warblers, woodpeckers and more to your backyard.

Not to mention you are decorating your garden for Valentine's Day!



bird feeder heart

What you need:

  • Suet from your garden nursery or pet store. Make sure it is pure suet.
  • Your favorite birdseeds mix
  • A heart shaped cookie cutter
  • Bowl
  • A big spoon
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Twine


How to make it:

1. Soften the fat or suet at room temperature. Mix the seed into the suet and spoon in and press the mixture into a heart shape (or any shape you have) cookie cutter. We like to just use our hands.

Note: When half the mixture is pressed in, place a looped string with a toothpick tied to one side into the mixture with the loop hanging out of the top and the toothpick going across (inside the heart) to give it hanging strength.

2. Place in freezer or outside. When the suet molds are cooled, wrap each individually in plastic wrap and store in the freezer until needed.

3. Decorate with extra seeds.

4. Put them in the fridge or freeze the one you don╒t use.

Please note when spring comes around, the suet will melt.

 
Thanks to guest blogger Kari Svenneby, Polar Bear Mom and owner of blog network Activekidsclub.com - which is all about discovering nature with adult and kids through play - lifestyle - cooking - outdoor playgroups - safety reflectors.

Share your Valentine picnic ideas, nature craft ideas and everyday outdoor ideas with us for Activekidsclub Outdoor Valentine link.

Posted by Teacher Mom on 01/31/2012 - 11:08
Labels:
ShareThis share this post

Fall tree handprint paper craft

Easy all ages FALL craft to celebrate the change in seasons! momstown Central Alberta did this craft at recent event!

fall leaves handpint

 

What you need:

  • Construction paper (brown, green, red, orange, yellow)
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • a Crayon

 

fall leaves handpintFirst they traced the kid's hands on brown construction paper for the trunk.

 

 
fall leaves handpint
Then, we glued the trunk to a blue background, added some green grass & some red, yellow & orange leaves...
 
And, voila!  A beautiful fall tree to take home and enjoy!
Posted by momstown mama on 09/19/2011 - 23:19
Labels:
ShareThis share this post

Apple Trees for every age

Three momstown kids - ranging in age from 1 to 6 - made three apple trees!

apple trees

Take your empty toilet rolls and you can make three different kids of apple trees!

1. Foamy tree with foam "apples" (baby and toddler version)
2. Mosaic tree with foam, paper and bead "apples" (preschool version)
3. Tissue paper apple tree (from the newly minted grade one!)

 

apple trees

What you need:

  • Toilet rolls
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Green paper
  • Red or green foam sheets
  • Red or green beads
  • Cardboard for tree backing (cereal boxes work well!)
  • Brown crayon
  • Green and red tissue paper

 

apple trees For all the trees you need a firm backing for the leaf part, so start by tracing a tree shape onto cardboard and have children cut out.

 

 

 

 

apple treesCover the tree shape in glue to prepare for the mosaic or foam tree.

 

 

apple trees

 

 

 

Here's the mosaic apple tree in progress - have your child cut out shapes and glue on to the tree. We have a scissor loving kid in our house so he had fun snipping pieces of scrap paper for the tree.  Then add red and green beads or red circle cut-outs for apples!

 

 

 

apple trees

For the foamy (simplest) version, cut out a foamy tree shape (use your cardboard cutout as a pattern) and have your baby or toddler glue on red circles and beads (careful for choking if doing this with a young one).

 

 

 

 

 

apple trees

Cut tissue paper into 2 inch squares. Have glue handy on a plate or scrap paper for "dipping". Dip small, scrunched up pieces of tissue into the glue and stick onto the cardboard baking to create the tissue paper apple tree. Use green for the leaves and red for the apples. This one was made by a 6 year old who had lots of patience, a young child may need a hand to complete with you.

 

For all tree styles, cut approximately half an inch on two sides of the toilet roll to create an insert space for the treetop to slip into to attach.

 

 

This is a perfect idea for a mixed age playgroup or family craft!

Posted by momstown mama on 09/12/2011 - 18:51
Labels:
ShareThis share this post
1234next ›last »