Kids' Corner

What you need:

• Empty clear plastic bottle with cap
• White paint or white tape or white paper
• Red paint OR red tape OR red paper
• Black marker
• Glue (if using paper)
• Paint brush (if using paint)

Instructions:

1. Cover the bottle with the white paint or tape or paper, ¾ of the way up
2. Leave a roughly 5-centimetre (2-inch) section of the bottle clear, then paint or cover the remainder of the bottle above the clear section white
3. The bottle cap should be red
4. Let dry if using paint
5. Next take your red paint, tape, or paper, and create red stripes approximately every 3 cm (1.5 inches) up the bottle to the clear section
6. Then do the same for the neck of the bottle
7. Draw a small gate around the clear section to resemble where the light is kept

You’re all done! If you are feeling adventurous, you could cut a hole in the back of the bottle and put a small battery-operated candle inside the bottle to give off light

What you will need:

• White glue
• Water
• Plastic wrap
• Small plastic bowl, about 15-20 centimetres (6-8 inches) across the top
• Shredded paper
• String or yarn – cut into 12-15 cm (4-6 inch) lengths
• Low, wide, plastic container to hold the glue
• Cover for the table (this can be a bit messy!)
• Optional: feathers, decorative moss

Instructions:

1. Cover the outside of the bowl with a piece of plastic wrap. You may want to tape the wrap to the inside of the bowl so that it will be sure to stay in place.
2. In the wide container, mix the glue with some water. Equal parts water and glue is suggested, but if you find it too thin you can add a bit more glue.
3. Dip strips of the string/yarn and shredded paper in the glue and put it over the plastic wrap. You can rub any excess glue off with you fingers before putting it on the bowl. You can place the string and paper any way you wish - it does not have to be perfectly straight. (If you are also using the optional materials you can add these as well.) Continue until the plastic wrap is completely covered.
4. Put your project in a safe place to dry. You will need to wait at least 24 hours before removing the nest from the bowl. If the glue is still wet leave the nest to dry a bit longer.
5. Lift the nest from the bowl and carefully remove the plastic wrap. You may want to ask an adult for help.

• Hint: Want your nest to look natural? Use colours that you would find in nature like browns and greens!
• Discussion: Talk about what barn swallows use to hold their nests together (mud, feathers, etc.) and how you think they do this. Do you think your replica nest is fairly similar to a real nest?