Pine Cone Christmas Trees

These little guys turned out so cute all together.  We did this craft in the Extended Resource Room where I volunteer.  The craft is good for the kids, a group that isn't naturally so artistic.  It helps their dexterity and encourages them to stick with a task.  The project is super simple but, as you can see, the results are really cute.

What You'll Need:

• Pine cones
• Green tempura paint
• Paint brush (a broad, hard bristle works best)
• Tree decor items (we used white glitter and yellow paper stars)

The kids first get to paint the tree.  Encourage them to paint the top and under side of each "leaf."  This works best if you begin and the top and systematically work down, leaving an unpainted part to hold on to.  While the paint was still wet, we sprinkled them liberally with white glitter to give a snow affect.  Once they were dry, we simply glued the stars on top with a glue gun.  Next time we do this craft we'll use colored glitter and assorted gems and pom-pom balls for decoration.

Pine Cone Holiday Crafts

Find a pine cone, put it in your packs, all year long, you'll have fun crafts!

This week, we'll be exploring the fun holiday crafts kids can do with a simple pine cone.

Getting Pine Cones

Pine cones are abundant, versatile, natural, and, if you collect them yourselves, FREE (my favorite part).

In anticipation of holiday pine cone art this year, we included pine cone gathering into our summer nature hikes and camping excursions.  It was fun for the kids to keep their eye out for the biggest and best pine cones.  It kept the little one moving along without being carried (bonus!) and the preteen interested in listening (or at least being quiet with minimal eye-rolling) during my nature lecture.

If you're just starting to gather your pine cones, plan a walk around your neighborhood or a local evergreen-heavy greenbelt or park.  This is a great opportunity to do double-duty and take the kids into the mountains if you have some close by.  We have a local sledding hill that's perfect for a day of fun and pine cone collection.

If you're short on time or resources, a bag of pine cones from the craft store will also work well.

 Pine Cone Bird Feeders

In winter, birds' caloric needs change.  Just like us, a higher amount of calories are necessary to survive the cold winter temperatures.  Peanut butter is high in protein and fat, making it a perfect and enticing base for winter bird feeders.

To do this project, you will need:

• pine cones
• peanut butter
• bird seed
• string, yarn, wire, or ribbon (for hanging)

The steps:

1. It's best to attach your ribbon before beginning.  Tie it securely to top of the pine cone forming a loop at the top for easy hanging.
2. There are several ways to get the seeds and peanut butter on the cone.  Some people like to mix the peanut butter and seed and then spread.  I personally prefer a two-step approach, so that's what we'll be doing here.  Have your kids spread the peanut butter all over the pine cone with a butter knife or spatula.  Feel free to be liberal and be sure to get into the cracks. 
3. Pour the bird seed into a shallow bowl.  Once the pine cone is covered in peanut butter, roll it in the bird seed, applying pressure to ensure the seed sticks. 
4. Viola!  Your Pine Cone Bird Feeder is done!  Hang in a tree, on an eave, or anywhere birds congregate.

Tips for Hanging Your Bird Feeder

 The ideal bird feeder location is out of the wind.  Look for a spot on the east or southeast side of the house or near a row of trees.  Ideally, your spot will have a perching area, such as a bush or tree, where birds can survey for predators.

Many winter birds tend to congregate into flocks, a survival mechanism which enhances their chances of finding food.  Since your feeder may be hosting more than an individual bird, consider making several and placing in the same general area.

Educational Opportunities

This project can easily be enhanced to encompass more than just nature crafts.  Some great educational ideas for kids of varying ages:

• Track your birds.  Even the smallest kids can pay attention to the birds that visit the feeder and record the results.  Keep a Bird Log by the back door or a window from which your feeder is visible.  Have the kids record the characteristics of the birds that visit.  How many birds did we see today?  Were they blue, brown, red?  Is there more of one color bird than the other?  Are there patterns?  What kids of birds come in groups?  Tracking, categorizing, and identifying patterns helps kids exercise the parts of their brain where crucial math skills are developed (think about your college statistics classes).  
• Watch for weather patterns.  In most areas, winter weather can fluctuate.  While birds are naturally suited to alter their diet in the winter, sometimes a sudden drop in temperature can catch them unprepared.  It is these times especially that an easy-to-find food source, such as a backyard feeder, is especially helpful to birds.  Keep an eye on the temperature and storms.  Does your feeder see more attention during a cold spell?
• Learn About Bird Species.  What kids of birds come along?  Take your bird tracking a step further: write down the characteristics and then work as a family to identify the birds in your yard.  Older kids, especially, can begin learning additional characteristic of each species.  BirdWatchersDigest.com has a photographic and thorough identification tool.  
• Learn About Bird Behavior.  In the winter, most birds fluff up their feathers, which creates air pockets.  The air pockets work to help keep the birds warm. The more air spaces, the better the insulation. Other birds may perch on one leg, drawing the other leg to the breast for warmth, not unlike taking a mitten off to get a better grip on a snowball, while leaving a mitten on the opposite hand to keep it warm.

Common Core Standards Application

By applying some of the ideas listed under the "Educational Opportunities" category, this activity can be used to meet requirements of the Common Core State Standards (for education).

Specifically:
KINDERGARTEN: K.MD,3: Classify objects and count the number of objects in each category
FIRST: 1.MD,4: Represent and Interpret Data
SECOND: 2.MD,10: Represent & Interpret Data, draw a picture graph and a bar graph to represent a data set with up to four categories


References: Natural Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers Common Core State Standards (Mathematics)