A December for play, craft, cooking and growth- Kids Grow Advent Calander

December 1

Instead of opening the little cardboard door on the chocolate advent calendar, open your front door and see what treasure can be found outside.

Our fist advent calendar activity for a warm Sunday, is to go out on a family pine-cone hunt to build a pine-cone bird-feeder.

photo credit:http://spoonful.com/crafts/pinecone-bird-feeder

Mission 
Start the holiday decorations for the world to see and enjoy.

Materials

• Pine cone
• Paper plate
• Butter knife or plastic knife (depending on child's age)
• Smooth peanut butter
• Breackfast cerial for the kid friendly 'eat as you go option' or birdseed (for a great activity without nibbles along the way)
• Large mixing bowl
• Ribbon or yarn
• Scissors

 Stage One: Prepeation and reconnaissance

1. The first part of today's activity is a treasure hunt to find some nice pine-cones. You will need at least one for each child or bird feeder.

2. Once you have your pine-cones, bring them indoors to start the craft
Stage two: Action Plan

1. Adult task/ Child supervision: Cut a lengh yarn or ribbon. This is the hanger for the birdfeeder. Attatch it to the feeder by means of knots near the top.
    
2. Kid task: pour out the cerial in to a mixing bowl, and using your hands crush it up into smaller pieces. Alternativly pour out some birdseed into the bowl.
   
3.  Kid task: with the knife place a glob of peanut butter on the paper plate.
   
4. Kid task: using fingers or the knife smear peanut butter all over the cone. Try to get both the inside and outside.
   
   
5. Kid task:  Sprinkle and roll the pine-cone around in the bowl of crushed cereal or birdseed that is on the plate.
   
6. Family task:  Head back outdoors and hang the bird feeder on a tree. Decoration for the you, your neighbors and the birds to enjoy!

 Need more guidance? Check out the http://myblessedlife.net/2011/11/make-bird-feeder.html
for wonderful step by step photos.