Bird Boxes

Want a good project?  Try bird boxes. Kids can build all types and track the birds which next in them.  I'm in the process of grant writing--which means research.  I'm planning on adding bird houses to an environmental project because kids love to build bird houses.  I've used this bird nesting box kit and this alternate nesting box kit from Carolina Biological.  Both versions are fairly easy to build.  Lowes has a bird house kit, too.  The Lowes kit retails for about $10; the bird house kits from Carolina are about $14 each.  So, we tried the Lowes kit with our favorite six year old, Paul.  The holes are predrilled.  The design is a simple box.  My only issue is that the nails are tiny!  Rob and Paul built the bird house in about an hour.  So, I think elementary kids could construct these kits with minimal direction.  We used markers to decorate the birdhouse because they're less messy. The kits from Carolina are more substantial--but this was easy to build.    Here is a photo of my teens building bird boxes.  Here's a shot of a completed bird box hanging in the woods behind the school. Want more on birds?  Try Cornell.  They are experts in all things bird.

Let's Build Catapults!

I'm helping my husband teach a Physics class.  I know how to teach and he understands the physics--not my area.  We're going to start a unit on projectile motion with catapults.  You may want to make catapults, too!  They are a great means to teach some engineering.  Our lab next week is based on this projectile lab challenge.  We are focusing on both questions from the challenge and allowing our class to experiment with a variety of catapults using craft sticks, plastic spoons, rubber bands, protractors, marshmallows, rulers, and a glue gun.  This basic design has solid instructions.  This site has 15 more ideas for catapults.  Teach Engineering has a complete lesson for catapults with slideshows.  Make it a challenge!  BTW, the author of this catapult design created these for Cub Scouts.  Fun, right?