Materials

• clean egg carton
• glue
• scissors
• Activity Label template
• Items to look for template  Scavenger_Hunt_nest
  
• plastic lid
• Craft items (e.g., felt, feathers, markers, paint or foam etc.) to make your bird
• Background (we used a canvas, but cardstock or another thick paper would work)

Directions

• Using a clean egg carton, glue the Activity Label template onto the top of the closed carton and allow it to dry.  We used a cardboard egg carton for the label to adhere more easily.

•  Glue the suggested guide (Items to Look For template) on the inside of the lid to give you inspiration for items to find for building your nest.  In the blank squares of the grid, add your own ideas.

• Go outside together and see what you can find, thinking like a bird.  You may wish to combine found items with those purchased at a craft store (raffia,yarn, craft sand etc.) to enhance your nest depending on your collection.

•  Using the materials you have collected, create your own nest. We did this by gluing the items in a circular formation on a plastic lid (so it wouldn’t adhere to another surface) and then once it was dry placing several books on top to flatten it a bit.

• We painted a canvas background (using a bit of blue and white paint and a facial tissue) and allowed it to dry.

• We then added a found branch for the nest to perch on and created a painted bird, gluing this all down with our nest.  (We had to use a glue gun, but you may find this is not the case.)

• If your child needs a prompt to get started in making the bird, ask: “What kind of bird do you imagine would live in the nest you made?”. Or if you pretended to be a bird while you collected the materials, “What kind of bird were you?”.  We were a “firebird”!

Purpose

• Exploration of the outdoors/engagement with environment
• To develop an understanding of materials that birds might possibly use to make their nest.
• Children/ Students might also engage in the use of resources such as books to investigate further what birds use to create their homes- does it differ according to region?  Urban or rural settings?
• Fine motor development (cutting, gluing, assembling)

Safety Notes

• Be sure to go outside with adult supervision
• Glue guns should be used by an adult only.

http://www.owlkids.com/reader-art-of-the-week-april-13-19/

Check them out!

Materials

• Balloon
• Old bowl
• Scissors
• White glue (several bottles)
• Water
• An old spoon or fork for mixing
• Shades of brown and/or tan yarn
• Raffia
• Shredded paper or cut up brown paper bags
• Brown craft sand
• Feathers
• Plastic table cloth or newsprint
• Smock

Directions

• Prior to making the nest, as it can be quite messy, it is a good idea to cover your workspace with an inexpensive plastic table cloth or old newspaper. You might want to wear a smock for this reason as well.

• Have an adult blow up a balloon for the craft. Choose the size of balloon based on the size of nest that you would like to make. To hold the balloon steady, place it in an old bowl so that it is snug (the part that blew into and tied should be inside of the bowl as you will only be covering the bottom.)

• Cut lengths (approx. half a metre/ one and a half feet) of various shades of brown and/or tan yarn.

• Have an adult shred various shades of brown paper and/or paper bags for you. (Or cut it into thin strips using scissors). Other suggested items might include raffia, embroidery floss, craft grass, craft moss etc.)

• Take white glue and dilute it (about two parts glue to one part water). You can mix brown craft sand (this gives it colour and texture) with it to make it appear more mud like, although we liked the effect of sprinkling it on later. Take one length of yarn and dip it in the glue mixture, assuring that it is completely covered and well absorbed. Then place the yarn in between your thumb and fingers and pull downwards to remove the excess glue. Holding the end of the yarn with one hand and pulling it through your pointer and middle finger is an other helpful technique. Try to get it back into the container for re-use. (See our video for a demonstration of this.)

• Circle the yarn around the bottom portion of the balloon. Repeat, assuring that you overlap the yarn pieces so that they will adhere together. It is helpful to tuck the ends under another piece of yarn. Take small handfuls of the shredded paper and dip them in the glue. Weave the pieces underneath the yarn. You may want to weave in other items such as feathers. If you notice any dry looking spots, put an additional amount of the glue mixture on. While it is wet, sprinkle with brown craft sand to create a muddy texture similar to a real nest.

• Let this dry for several days. When you see that it appears dry, pop the balloon (with a pin or scissors) and carefully peel it out . The inside of the nest may be still damp, therefore allow it to dry overnight before use.

• Use your nest as a centre piece, for storing special items or for the games you will soon find on our website. How can you make it your own by what you put inside?

Purpose

• Making a replica of an item, development of fine motor skills (scissor use, weaving etc.)

Safety Notes

• An adult should blow up the balloon and it should be discarded after use as balloons pose a choking hazard.
• Be sure to cover your workspace as glue may damage certain surfaces.
• Use scissors and/or a pin with direct adult supervision.

• Purchase or re-use small baskets with cut-outs/ slots
• Coloured yarn (e.g., various shades of brown)
• Other materials might include: raffia, twine, long strips of material
• Scissors
• Laundry basket (for the larger version)

Directions

This activity is great for storing materials for both at school (e.g., if you had centres on birds and needed a spot for the various supplies) or at home (what a fun way to organize your desk!).  The larger, laundry basket version would be great for bigger items or games (we have some ideas coming your way!).

Purchase or re-use small baskets with cutouts/slots.

Cut yarn of various shades of brown about the length of your child’s arm.  (For younger children, the distance between their elbow and their wrist to prevent tangling).

Tie one end of your yarn to the basket in the inside. Weave the yarn, going up and down through the slots (turning the basket on its side).  Be sure to wrap around the top rim as well.

If needed, to make threading easier, wrap a bit of clear tape around the end of the yarn that you are pulling through.

You could use other materials to weave as well: long scraps of material, raffia etc.

Be sure to secure the ends of the materials used with a knot and cut off any remaining pieces.

Make a larger version using a laundry basket, yarn and strips of fabric.

Purpose

A forgiving fine motor activity, that lends itself to more of an”organic look”, this is an easy starting off point for understanding weaving and encourages children to use their fine motor skills.

Safety Notes

Use scissors with adult supervision.

http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2014/05/nest-collage-with-paper-and-twigs.html

Materials

• Found twigs (or an alternative for younger children may be popsicle sticks as they are easier to handle/ glue down.) You could use them in their natural form or paint them various colours of brown.
• White graft glue
• Cardstock (or we used a canvas)
• Paper for eggs (e.g., scraps of oragami, chiyogami, crepe paper etc.)
• Feathers
• Scissors
• Print out of the accompanying writing activity Eggs Need a Nest Because…

Directions

As finer items are sometimes difficult for some kids such as pre-schoolers to work with, popsicle sticks make a great alternative to the twigs to start with OR gather fallen twigs or ones that have already been trimmed off a tree.

Glue the back of the popsicle sticks or twigs and adhere them to a background piece of paper or canvas in the shape of nest.

Cut eggs out of paper and add them to your nest.  To create interest we used scraps of origami paper, crepe paper etc.

Add some feathers to layer the inside of your nest.

Writing Accompaniment: Finish this sentence on the attached page with your writing: Eggs need a nest because….

Purpose

Fine motor skill development, using found objects, thinking about the purpose of things.

Safety Notes

Go outside with adult supervision.

Use scissors with adult supervision

• Geoboard (these can be purchased at educational stores/sites) OR a piece of wood with nails for the same effect.  We have also seen peg boards with bolts (and nuts) screwed in from the underside to form pegs which allows for you to vary the size. With commercially made geoboards often there is one side that is in a grid formation (e.g., 4 X 4) and the other side might have a different grid  (e.g., 5 X 5) or a circle
• Nylon loops (We cut loops out of tan or brown nylon stockings, but cutting across the leg potions in widths about 5 cm or 2 inches wide) OR use elastics
• Scissors

Directions

A geoboard is a great tool for learning and exploring geometric ideas and/or challenges.  They typically use rubber bands/ elastics.  This is an easy (and gentle) way to introduce younger children to their use so they will be prepared for the progression to elastics.

Using a geoboard (as shown) or a piece of wood with nails for the same effect, create your own stretchy elastic nest materials by cutting tights and/or panty hose cut as shown.

Stretch them over the pegs to make a nest shape.  Could you make a nest using triangles? Rectangles?  What is the biggest nest you can make?  Smallest?

Purpose

Fine motor skill development, hand/eye coordination, introduction to the geoboard, geometric and/or spatial awareness

Safety Notes

If you decide to go with the nail option, be sure to have adult supervision with any cutting of wood and the use of a hammer and nails or have them do it.  Additionally, be sure to protect your eyes with safety glasses.

If you use elastics, review with children that elastics are a tool, rather than a toy.

• Plastic Mesh (we used brown, found at a craft store, used for embroidery projects)
• Embroidery floss (various shades of brown and light blue)
• Plastic needle (you can purchase these at craft stores) OR a dull tipped metal needle
• Scissors

Directions

This is a craft which gets young children started into the process of sewing/embroidery.

Begin by cutting lengths of the various embroidery thread.  For children starting out, the length from between their wrist to their elbow or their wrist to their shoulder seems to work.

Knot the end several times (depending on the size of the holes in your mesh).

Thread the other end through a needle.  Sew (as you can see we used large “stitches”) in a circular pattern (leaving an empty centre), creating a nest design using various colours of brown.  Start the first stitch from the bottom going up and finish your last stitch on the bottom so that your knots are hidden. Once a length has been used, knot it and cut off the excess thread.

In the centre create egg type shapes, using light blue embroidery thread and smaller stitches (a progression to a more difficult skill).

Purpose

Fine motor skill development, hand/eye coordination, using/ becoming familiar with a variety materials.

Safety Notes

Use scissors, needles and yarn with adult supervision.

• Plain/ neutral coloured bag (can be purchased at a craft store)
• Nest coloured fabric paint (browns) and egg coloured fabric paints
• Collected twigs or popsicle sticks and/or yarn
• Shallow dish
• Craft tray or table cloth
• Smock, apron or old clothes

Directions

This is a great alternative to a basket for collecting eggs or for everyday use.

Purchase a plain, neutral coloured bag from a craft or dollar store.  They are often featured in the plain t-shirts section.

Before you get started on the project be sure to cover yourself and your work space as the paint may not come off all surfaces if it accidentally spills.

Buy brown or tan fabric paint (nest colours) and place it in a large, shallow tray.

Use collected twigs, popsicle sticks or yarn to dip into the paint and create a nest shape in the centre of the bag, leaving a space in the middle for your eggs.

Let dry overnight and complete on the other side in the same fashion if you like.  We added a bit of sewn lines (using a sewing machine) to create additional texture.

Be sure to clean your tray/dish between uses.  Put a small amount of blue fabric paint in your tray and using your thumb, create an “egg thumbprint”.  Be sure to wash your hands throughly.  Allow your bag to dry overnight.

Purpose

Fine motor skill development, hand/eye coordination, using a variety of materials to paint with.

• Neutral coloured fabric (You could use a pillow case, napkin etc.)
• Embroidery floss (various shades of brown)
• Thicker needle (with a hole big enough for the embroidery floss)
• Scissors
• Felt or fabric
• Fabric paint
• Shallow dish
• Cloth (to wipe your hands or up any potential spills)
• Fabric glue
• Smock, apron or old clothes
• Sewing machine & thread (optional & with adult help)

Directions

Take a piece of plain, neutral coloured fabric.  You could make napkins, a pillow case etc.  We decided to make a spring table runner.  The edges were folded, ironed and sewn over with a sewing machine.  You can often find items that are prepared for adding your own details in craft stores.

Take nest coloured embroidery floss and sew it into a nest pattern (see photograph for a starting idea) using simple stitching and leaving the centre empty for eggs.  We had an adult  add some machine sewing as well to create more of a textured look.  This is a good beginner hand sewing project as it lends itself to more of an “organic” look.

Select a fabric paint that you might use for eggs such as light blue.  Place a small amount in a shallow dish.  Use thumb or finger prints to make eggs for your nest.  Or if you would like, cut egg shapes out of felt or fabric and trace the edges with fabric paint like we did.  Let dry overnight or according to the directions. Glue onto your table runner or project using fabric glue.

Want to give this as a gift? We will soon have some card ideas posted to accompany it.

Purpose

Fine motor skill development, hand/eye coordination (sewing), creating a visual representation of a real life object

Safety Notes

Use scissors and a needle with adult supervision

A sewing machine should be used by an adult or with adult supervision, based on your age and skill level.