Create your own bird feeder using an up-cycled paper cup and pipe cleaners. This cup bird feeder is an easy craft project for young kids!
Observing and watching the birds is a wonderful activity. Creating your own bird feeder is super easy with this step by step tutorial.
While this craft project will not last forever outside, I love how its easy enough for young children in preschool and kindergarten!
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Learning about birds with your kids? Make sure to check out this Printable Backyard Bird Bingo game and this bird watching observation journal!
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Age Range
- Preschool
- Kindergarten
- Elementary
You can make this basic bird feeder craft with a wide range of ages. From preschool through 3rd grade. Although kids can complete most of the steps themselves, adult supervision is required for all steps of this DIY.
Fun as an after school project or as a hands-on activity for a bird unit study. You can even do this as a family on the weekend. Crafts make great screen free activities, plus this one gets you outside!
Skills to Practice
- Drawing
- Fine Motor Skills
- Lacing Practice
- Measuring
- Using Tape
- Scissor Skills
While making this project, little ones can practice a wide range of skills. From practicing using scissors and tape to lacing the pipe cleaners through the holes.
I tried to keep this project very simple so that young children are able to do a lot of the steps.
My hand-held hole punch is a little hard to squeeze and punch, if yours is like mine, you may have to do that step for your child. However, you can let them decide where the holes will be punched!
Why You will Love this DIY
Young children love when they can complete a craft project independently. This project is easy enough for young children to complete- with adult supervision of course!
Materials
- 12 oz Paper cup
- 3 Pipe cleaners
- 1 Cup of bird seed
- Piece of printer paper
- Clear tape
- Blunt tip kid scissors
- Single hole punch
- Ruler
Instead of pipe cleaners you can use cotton butcher twine, jute cord, or yarn. You just may have to help your child tie the cording into knots.
Don't have a 12 oz paper cup, you can use an 8 oz cup instead or even a disposable plastic cup.
Directions
The first step is to cut down the cup. Using scissors, cut the top off the cup leaving the bottom 2 inches. You can use a ruler (great math practice) or just estimate it!
Next, cut the plain paper into a 3 inch wide strip that fits the circumference of the cup. I made the strip of paper longer than the cup to give kids more room to draw.
Then let your child decorate the strip of paper. I recommend using wax crayons verses markers. Markers will run if they get wet.
I drew a sun, cloud, grass, and blue sky, but it would be fun to draw a garden or even birds! I love how each child will come up with their own unique creation.
Next, wrap the label around the cup and secure with tape. I made the top flush with the top of the cup and let the bottom part of the paper hang down below the actual bottom of the cup.
Now, you are ready to punch the holes for the pipe cleaners. I used a single hand-held hole punch and punched three holes along the top edge of the cup.
Once all the holes are punched, you can weave the pipe cleaners through the holes. I wrapped about 1 inch of pipe cleaner back onto itself. That made sure it was securely holding the cup while leaving enough pipe cleaner to hang it up outside.
Repeat until all three pipe cleaners are in place on the cup. It is fun to talk about how the three supports will help the cup balance and not tip compared to just using two!
Time to fill up the cup with bird seed. You can either do this step before or after it is hanging up outside. I decided to fill it up first, but some of it did fall out as I walked outside and hung it up.
To hang, simply twist the pipe cleaners to each other or around a branch or hook.
Tips
- Since the cup does not have a top, the feeder will get wet if it rains. You can either take in the feeder in wet weather or place it in a protected area.
- Wherever you place the feeder, make sure to check on it daily and replace the seed when needed.
- If you live in black bear country like I do, only place bird feeders outside when bears are hibernating. I wait until winter and make sure the temperatures are very very cold. Then I take them down before it warms up in the spring.
Additional Activities
Learn more about birds with these additional activities. Low prep and fun for kids in preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school!
Looking for bird toys and gifts? Make sure to check out this bird gift guide.
Cup Bird Feeder Craft
Learn how to create your own bird feeder using a paper cup, paper, and pipe cleaners. An easy bird feeder craft for adults and kids!
Materials
- 12 oz Paper Cup
- 3 Pipe Cleaners
- Piece of Printer Paper
- Crayons
Tools
- Single Hole Punch
- Clear Tape
- Blunt Tip Kid Scissors
Instructions
- Using scissors, cut off the top of the cup leaving the bottom 2 inches.
- Cut the printer paper into a 3 inch wide strip that fits the circumference of the cup.
- Decorate the strip of paper using crayons
- Wrap the paper around the cup and secure with tape. Keep the top of the paper flush with the top of the cup.
- Using a single hole punch, punch three holes along the top edge of the cup
- Lace one pipe cleaner into each hole. Secure each pipe cleaner by twisting 1 inch of the pipe cleaner back onto itself.
- Hang up the feeder outside by twisting the pipe cleaners together over a branch or hook.
- Fill the feeder with the bird seed.
Notes
Adult Supervision is required for ALL parts of this activity
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