Bird Feeders
Grade Levels: Pre-K - 5
Objectives
- Students will make bird feeders.
- Students will observe and record data on birds coming to their feeders.
Materials
(not all of these items are needed)- Coconut
- Grapefruit
- Birdseed
- Suet
- Pine cone
- Peanut butter
- Bacon grease
- Mesh bag
Procedures
In the winter, birds often need extra food for fuel and warmth. Suet is an important food source for them. Here are three ideas for you to make to feed the birds in your area.
- Make a coconut or grapefruit bird feeder. Fill it with birdseed and suet and hang it on a tree.
- Make a pine cone bird feeder. Cover the pine cone with peanut butter and bacon grease and roll the pine cone in birdseed. Hang the pine cone by a string or colored yarn and watch the birds gather to eat!
- Make a suet bag feeder. Take a mesh bag from the vegetables at home (such as the onion bag). Fill it with suet and tie the ends with twine and hang it outside.
- Be sure to hang the feeders high on the tree so other animals do not get the birds' food.
- Make a "Bird Notebook" by observing the traffic to the feeders.
- Students may want to note the time, weather, types and numbers of visitors for several days.
- Illustrations will add to the "Bird Notebook."
- Graphs of the data observed can be made to further enhance learning.
Excerpt from Elementary Science Activities for All Seasons.
