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Nesting Bags

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The GIANT Encyclopedia of Art & Craft Activities for Children 3 to 6

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The GIANT Encyclopedia of Art & Craft Activities for Children 3 to 6

Materials

Plastic netted bag (such as onions, oranges, or potatoes are packaged in)

Small pieces of yarn

Shredded paper

Colored wrapping paper scraps

Dryer lint

Scissors

String or cord

Instructions

What to do
1. A week or so before the project, post a sign asking parents to save the plastic netted bags and
send them in for making nesting bags.
2. Tell the children they are going to make nesting bags, which are like gift bags for the birds. Talk
with the children about how birds make their nests by picking up miscellaneous materials they
find and taking them, one by one, to their nesting sites.
3. Invite the children to select, from the nesting materials you have made available, a nice assortment
that they can use to stuff in their netted bags.
4. Be sure to cut a slit or two on the sides of the bags to allow the birds to get the items out.
5. Tie the bags on tree branches and watch for signs of birds "stealing" the items to make their
nests.
6. The birds will love it!
More to do
Science: Make a bird feeder by using an empty plastic gallon jug with a handle. Cut a section out
of two sides of the jug. Cut the bottom of the handle away from the jug in order to place it onto a
tree branch. Fill the jug bottom with birdseed (NEVER use rice as this kills the birds). Watch for
signs of birds using it. Fill as necessary. Be sure to put it in a very popular place used by birds.
Snack: An edible variation can be made if desired. Melt a bag of butterscotch chips in the
microwave and add canned chow mein noodles. Mix with a spoon and place by spoonfuls onto
wax paper until hardened. Then color two cups (500 mL) of coconut green by placing it into a zipclosure
bag with a few drops of green food coloring. Shake. Add the coconut to the chow mien
nests before hardening is complete. Then add a few jellybeans to each nest. Enjoy!

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