by
Heidi at Betty Crocker
12/14/2007 11:40:00 AM
My four-year-old niece, Morgan, goes to this cool preschool that places a lot of emphasis on teaching kids about nature and the environment. They do all sorts of fun things like go on hikes, eat fried dandelions and learn how maple syrup is made. A live chicken, named "Miss Chick," actually lives in Morgan's classroom.
Last week my sister Carrie read the class The Big Snow, which is all about how animals prepare for the winter. Then she showed the class how to make For-the-Birds Feeder, a craft in The Cheerios Cookbook I gave to Morgan couple of years ago (full disclosure: I edited the book).
Like lots of places these days, Morgan’s school is peanut-free, so Carrie used soy nut butter instead of the creamy peanut butter called for in the directions. She called the event, “messy, but successful.” Considering every one of the kids who made the bird feeders chose to take them home rather than leave them at school, I’d have to agree about the successful part (and I'm grateful I wasn't charged with clean up!).
I'll post a photo of Morgan's bird feeder as soon as I get my hands on one. In the meantime, here's the photo from the book and the directions:
For-the-Birds Feeder
 |
Start to Finish: 15 minutes
1 bird feeder
Supplies:
Sharpened pencil
Sugar ice cream cone
Pipe cleaner (chenille stem)
Table knife
Creamy peanut butter
Cheerios cereal
Birdseed
|
1. Use the pencil to poke a hole in the pointed end of the ice cream cone.
2. Twist a knot in the end of the pipe cleaner. Thread the pipe cleaner into the ice cream cone and out the hole (The knot will hold the pop cleaner in place).
3. Use the table knife to spread the peanut butter on the outside of the cone. Press the cereal all over the peanut butter to cover the cone. Sprinkle the birdseed over the cone, pressing it into the peanut butter with your fingers.
Tags:
Cheerios Cookbook, bird feeder, craft