Recycled homemade bird feeders, bird seed treats and free printable bird lesson plans

Hello my Omschooligans! Do plastic milk jugs overflow your recycling bin? They certainly do here at the Omschool Tree fort! So how about we make some simple homemade crafts to repurpose and reuse recycled milk jugs? And value added, our furry and feathered friends will love your recycled milk jug craft projects. But first, here are free printable bird activities and coloring pages to enjoy!

Free Printable Bird Coloring Pages

Audubon for Kids: Offers various nature-themed activities, including DIY crafts and art projects like making migration-friendly window decorations.
Columbia Audubon Society: Provides high-quality, printable bird illustrations, such as the Costa’s Hummingbird, created to combine science with creativity.
Homemade Gifts Made Easy: Features a gallery of 56 free printable bird coloring pages, ranging from simple outlines for young children to realistic species drawings for older students and adults.
ABCmouse: Offers a large collection of bird-themed printables, including "color by addition" and "color by sight" worksheets, as well as various bird species.
Crayola: Provides a variety of free animal-themed coloring pages, including birds.

Bird Lesson Plans & Activities

Audubon for Kids: An extensive resource for home educators, featuring activities like "What’s That Beak For?" (exploring beak adaptation) and interactive migration games.
The Homeschool Daily: Provides a comprehensive "Bird Unit Study" that includes printable graphic organizers, emergent readers for early learners, and "Beak & Feet" matching cards to teach anatomy and function.
BirdNote in the Classroom: Offers adaptable lesson plans for various grade levels, including activities like the "Bird Beak Buffet" (hands-on food exploration) and nature journaling prompts.
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance: Includes fun, interactive games such as "Bird BINGO" and "Owl Listening" activities to teach bird calls and sensory biology.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Offers specific lesson plans like "First Flight with Raptors," which introduces biology concepts through birds of prey.

Homemade Recycled Milk Jug Bird Feeders

I. Project Overview

Goal: Repurpose and reuse plastic milk jugs into functional bird feeders.
Benefits:
- Reduces waste in landfills.
- Supports wildlife and the local ecosystem.
- Great craft activity for Earth Day, National Bird Day, or general nature education.

II. Supplies Needed

Clean, rinsed, and dried plastic milk jugs.
Permanent markers, stickers, or fabric paint (for decoration).
Sharp scissors like you use in the kitchen.
Bird seed (generic bulk seed is inexpensive).
Optional additives for "special treats": citrus rinds, apple peelings, fruit seeds, stale popcorn, bread, crackers, nuts, and peanut butter.
Bright red yarn or ribbon for hanging.

III. Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Jug: Ensure the milk jug is thoroughly washed, rinsed, and dried.
Create the Window:
- Draw a window on the side opposite the handle, approximately 2.5 inches from the bottom.
- The window should measure about 4 inches on all sides.
- Carefully cut out the window using scissors.
Add Drainage: Poke 5 small holes in the bottom of the jug to allow for drainage and air circulation to keep birdseed dry.
Decorate: Use permanent markers, stickers, or fabric paint to create nature patterns.
Fill: Add approximately 1.5 inches of bird seed to the bottom of the feeder.
Hang:
- Use bright red yarn or ribbon to hang the feeder in trees or from poles (avoid utility wires).
- Or, make a clean cut through the handle near the base so it can you can "hook" it over a tree branch.
- Alternatively, place on a porch rail and secure with a nail through the bottom.

IV. Target Audience & Groups

School groups, libraries, day cares, and scout troops.
Homeschool
Vacation Bible School, summer camps, and nature centers.
Elderly groups (easy to construct and requires minimal space).

Hello my Omschooligans! here with a beach day unit of lesson plans for summer fun (and learning!) in the sun. And you know me--I'm all about recycling, repurposing and reusing. Today's beach craft activities feature craft projects from your recycle bin. Make DIY beach toys, sand castle molds and gardening tools from recycled plastic milk jugs. Next, enjoy a menu of beach themed snack crafts you can make yourself. You'll love the Teddy Graham sunbather! Enjoy these with some beach themed books. Then use free printable beach dioramas and coloring pages to make a shoebox habitat diorama! Use these for homeschool, vacation Bible school craft projects, summer school, camp, scout troop, 4H group and day care kids crafts.

DIY Beach & Garden Tools from Recycled Milk Jugs

Supplies Needed

2 clean plastic milk jugs per child
Permanent marker
Sturdy scissors (child-safe Fiskars scissors work well)

Instructions

1. Gardening Buckets, Plant Starters, or Sand Pails

Draw a line around the base of the milk jug, approximately 3 inches from the bottom.
Carefully poke a hole on this line with your scissors.
Cut along the line all the way around to remove the top half of the jug.
Use the base as a sand pail, gardening bucket, or plant starter.

2. Sand Toy Strainers or Sifters

Follow the same steps as above to create the bucket base.
Additionally, poke several small holes in the bottom of the jug to create a sifter or strainer for beach play.

3. Funnels or Sand Castle Molds

Take the remaining top portion of the milk jug.
Draw a circle around the top of the jug, about 2 inches down from the mouth.
Poke a hole on the line and cut around the circle in a toothed pattern to create your funnel or sandcastle mold.

4. Trowels and Garden Rakes

Use the remaining piece of the jug containing the handle.
Trace along the indentation where the handle attaches to the jug.
Cut along this line to separate the handle piece from the rest of the jug.
For a Trowel: Trim the top part (above the upper end of the handle) into a v-shaped point.
For a Garden Rake: Cut a zigzag edge into the bottom of the trowel piece.

5. Handled Shovels

Draw a circle around the base of the handle where it attaches to the jug, leaving about an inch of space.
Cut along the circle and remove the top end of the jug.
You now have a sturdy, handled shovel perfect for the beach or garden.

More sand castle molds from the recycle bin

When you purchase a new appliance or gadget, save those pre-formed cardboard or plastic pieces that hold the item secure in the box. These make awesome sand castle molds and best of all, you can toss them if they wet. Or you can recycle them if they are still solid.
Use recycled cottage cheese or butter tubs as sand castle molds. Cut them any way you wish!
Repurpose egg cartons as to make designs in the sand. We used them for fences, caterpillars and merlons (those square block thingys along the edge of a castle parapet). The possibilities are limited only by your imagination, which Teacher Omi knows is limitless!

From Teacher Omi's story corner

Round out your beach day adventures with a snuggle and a snack in the ! Here's a list of beach themed books and stories. Keep reading for recipes to make beachy snack crafts to nibble on!

Sand Play & Building

A Day for Sandcastles by JonArno Lawson
The Sandcastle That Lola Built by Megan Maynor – A modern, summery spin on "The House That Jack Built" featuring a giant sandcastle.
The Sand Castle Contest by Robert Munsch – A fun story about a competition where a sandcastle is built so well it looks like a real house.
Watch Me Build a Sandcastle by Jack Otten.

Beach Exploration & Adventures

Beach by Elisha Cooper – Captures the simple magic of a day at the beach and building memories.
Hello, Ocean by Pam Muñoz Ryan – A beautiful, sensory-rich celebration of a day spent at the shore.
Come Again, Pelican by Don Freeman – A gentle, beautifully illustrated story about the friendship between a boy and a pelican, capturing the quiet, magical moments of a beach day. (one of Teacher Omi's and Uncle Jakey's favoritest stories ever!)
Bluey: The Beach – Join Bluey for a fun-filled day of discovery and shell collecting.
Llama Llama Sand and Sun by Anna Dewdney – An interactive, touch-and-feel book featuring sandcastles and splashing in the waves.
Wave by Suzy Lee – A stunning, wordless picture book about a little girl’s first time at the beach and her interaction with the tide.
At the Beach by Anne F. Rockwell – Highlights classic activities like sandcastle building and seashell collecting.

Sensory & Nature Guides

Beach Feet by Kiyomi Konagaya – A unique, sensory-focused look at how a child experiences the sand and shore with their feet.
Sandy Feet! Whose Feet? by Susan Wood – An informative book about identifying animal footprints in the sand.
Backpack Explorer: Beach Walk by Editors of Storey Publishing – A hands-on field guide for little beachcombers to identify shells, rocks, and shorebirds.
This Beach is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill – A great story for children who might feel overwhelmed by the sensory experience of a busy beach day.

Hello my Omschooligans! Teacher Omi here with some free printable Christian crafts and coloring pages to help plan Sunday school, Vacation Bible School (VBS), or activities. If you're like me, you want something more than just Bible coloring pages for your Religious Education or lesson plans. Though having said that, I remember when I was about four and Sunday School was in a tiny room in a church basement and lessons were drawing Bible pictures with a big box of broken crayons. How Teacher Omi loved those old crayons.

Using free printable Bible paper crafts as VBS lesson plans makes them more interactive. Children get to cut, assemble, paste, color and fold, practicing fine motor and scissors skills. Here are free Christian printable crafts on an array of religious, Catholic, Christian and Bible themes-- Old Testament, New Testament, holy days, angels, virtues, scripture verses and much more. These sites have free printable Bible games, board games, puzzles, paper dolls, puppets, finger puppets and craft activities galore!

Resources for Support and Education

Here are the links.

Making Friends: A great resource for interactive, hands-on craft projects for children that can be used in educational settings. This site has free printable Bible crafts by the dozen. Some Sunday school activities are for purchase but many are free.
Free Kids Crafts: An extensive library of free printable Bible activities and VBS craft projects for various educational and religious themes. You'll find free Christian and Catholic printables and Bible craft projects plus Jewish activities and Torah crafts. These will work in any religious education setting. Be sure to visit the homepage and use the "search" and "site map" function to explore the Bible craft projects available.
Christian Preschool Printables: Offers a wide assortment of free printable Christian crafts, games, and lesson plans suitable for religious education and homeschooling. Activities are geared for preschool and older ages as well. You can find worksheets, calendars, lesson plans, board games, Bible card games, file folder games, felt board activities, crafts and more. I recommend that you bookmark this site and subscribe to the email newsletter.
A Kid's Heart: Features charming, educational resources and activities based on Christian principles and stories. Bible crafts are great for Sunday School and VBS activities but also for homeschooling or Christian school in general. Subjects like math and reading are covered with hands-on activities based on Bible stories. There are Bible word games, finger puppets, habitat dioramas, puzzles, mazes and more.

From the Omschool Tree Fort

And now for some Bible story themed snack crafts and craft projects just for you from Teacher Omi!

VBS Snack Crafts

"Lion's Den" Graham Cracker Snacks:
Use round Ritz type crackers or square graham cracker as the face. Spread with almond, sunflower or peanut butter butter. And press "mane" pieces (stick pretzels, matchstick carrots)—into the nut butter. Use any round candy for eyes (the little circles on a candy necklace work great!), a berry or grape nose and an apple slice mouth. You can cut little triangles in the apple to resemble teeth or just leave him smiling.
"Noah's Ark" Animal Cracker Boats:
Peel a banana and gentle press animal crackers along the side. Cut a little groove if it's easier, and place animals inside. The real ark didn't have sails but you can add them for fun if you wish, using fruit leather cut in triangles and attached with a toothpick or pretzels. Serve with the Rainbow Promise snack.
Rainbow Promise Fruit or Veggie Tray: Create a rainbow of cut fruit and/or vegetables.
"Fisher of Men" Pretzel Rods:
Give each child a container of blue or green yogurt. You can tint it with a little spirulina powder and it won't affect the taste. Place goldfish crackers on top with "fishing pole" pretzel sticks sticking out.

Teacher Omi's VBS Crafts from Recycled Materials

Cardboard Tube Angel Ornaments:
Paint an empty toilet paper or paper towel tube white. Cut tube in two sections, one smaller and one larger. Cut the smaller one in half lengthwise to make two 3D semi-circle shaped pieces to use as wings. Tape to sides of larger piece. Attach them with a tape hinge (two tape pieces on either side folded L shaped to attach to body). Draw a face on a ping pong or Styrofoam ball and add yarn hair. Or for a truly recycled scrap angel, draw face directly on the side of the tall piece. Add arms and hands folded in prayer. Twist a small piece of aluminum foil and bend into a halo, leaving a small piece to attach to body. Cut a hole in a coffee filter and slip the angel body into it, for a "skirt." Glue or tape pieces together. (note image isn't quite right but AI doesn't understand what I mean. But I think you do. The tape piece attaches to the tall body tube and to the bottom of the wing piece.
Egg Carton "Creation Story" Viewers:
Cut the cups from a cardboard egg carton. Paint the bottom and add a small opening. Inside, create a small diorama scene (e.g., a sun, stars, animals) using cut-out magazine pictures or bits of fabric.
"Stained Glass" Crosse suncatchers:
Cut a cross shape from a cereal box. Cut out the center leaving a thick border. Glue strips of colorful tissue paper or cut-up colored plastic bags across the opening to create a beautiful, translucent mosaic.

Free printable Bluey coloring pages, dog themed craft projects, snacks, books and lesson plans for a Bluey party

Hello my ! I'm a homeschool mom from way back and now I'm Teacher Omi (grandma) to 13 Omschooligan grandkiddos! In our Omschool, we love to explore, play and learn together in the Omschool Tree Fort! Why don't you join us for today's lesson plans and activities. The topic is (drumroll..)

Bluey, an agreed on favorite character among the youngers of the family. Bluey Heeler and her sister Bingo, and mom and dad Bandit and Chilli are dogs who interact like humans in relatable situations. Let's enjoy a Bluey party with coloring pages, craft projects, craft snacks kids can make, games and of course, story time brought together in educational lesson plans. You are welcome to print and use these activities in your homeschool or non-profit school setting.

Bluey Coloring Sheets

You can find a variety of free printable Bluey coloring pages and craft projects from several reliable sources:

Bluey Official Website: This is the best place to start, as it offers a wide range of official coloring sheets, DIY craft projects, recipes, and even printable Bingo cards.
Read Brightly: They provide a comprehensive "Read and Play" activity kit that includes crafts like a piggy bank, memory games, and paper masks, alongside various coloring sheets.
Crayola: A trusted resource that offers high-quality, printable coloring pages featuring Bluey, Bingo, and other family members.
Little Colorables: Features a collection of over 60 high-quality, free printable PDF coloring pages, including specific scenes like the Heeler family hugging or Bandit dancing.
SketchJoy: Offers a curated list of printable PDFs focused on different poses, actions, and "best bud" scenes from the show.
The Works: Provides thematic coloring sheets, including special collections like Halloween-themed outfits for the characters.
Homemade Gifts Made Easy: Offers "inspired-by" coloring pages and helpful creative tips, such as how to turn colored pages into DIY invitations, banners, or cupcake decorations.

Most of these sites provide the designs as PDF files that are easy to print on standard A4 or letter-sized paper.

Teacher Omi's Earth-Friendly Tip 🌍

Print your Bluey coloring pages on the backs of recycled scrap paper. Set your printer on grayscale to save ink, money, and trees!

Bluey party craft snacks kids can make themselves

Making "puppy-themed" snacks is a fun, hands-on activity for kids that captures the playful spirit of Bluey! Here are two recipes that are perfect for little chefs, featuring a classic human-friendly version of "puppy chow" and simple, wholesome "dog-style" biscuits that are completely safe (and tasty!) for humans to eat, too.

Chex "Puppy Chow" (Muddy Buddies)

This classic, no-bake snack is a favorite because kids love the "shaking" step. While it's called puppy chow, it’s a sweet, crunchy treat made for humans.

Ingredients:

6 cups Rice Chex or Corn Chex cereal
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions:

Melt: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir. Continue in 30-second bursts until the mixture is completely smooth.
Flavor: Stir the vanilla extract into the melted chocolate mixture.
Coat: Place the cereal in a large bowl. Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir gently with a spatula until evenly coated (be careful not to crush the cereal!).
Shake: Pour the coated cereal into a large food-storage bag. Add the powdered sugar, seal the bag, and shake until every piece is well-dusted.
Cool: Spread on wax paper to cool before serving.

Dog biscuits pups and humans friends can enjoy

🐾 Teacher Omi's DIY Dog Biscuit Cutters

Instructions:

Print the dog-themed cookie cutter images onto cardstock.

For extra durability, glue the paper shapes onto recycled cereal box cardboard.

Carefully cut out the shapes.

Place your pattern on the dough and use a plastic knife to trace around the edges!

These biscuits use simple, wholesome ingredients. They are shaped like dog treats but use human-safe ingredients like peanut butter and oat flour.

Ingredients:

1 cup oat flour (you can make this by pulsing rolled oats in a blender)
1/4 cup all-natural creamy peanut butter (ensure no xylitol is listed on the label)
1/3 cup water (add more if the dough is too dry)
Optional: A pinch of cinnamon for extra flavor

Instructions:

Prep: Preheat your oven to 360°F (180°C).
Mix: Combine the oat flour and cinnamon in a bowl. Add the peanut butter and water, stirring until a dough forms. Knead with your hands until it sticks together.
Roll: Lightly flour your surface, roll the dough out, and use a cookie cutter (a bone shape is perfect!) to cut out your biscuits.
Bake: Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes until crispy. Let them cool completely before eating.

Dog bone sandwiches

Weiner Dog: Put your favorite hot dog style or sausage link in a bun. Give him olive slice or mustard dot eyes. Tuck two triangle crackers, pretzels or tortilla chips on either side of his head, for ears. Draw a ketchup collar. Poke a pretzel in the end for a tail. Cut baby cucumber in slices. Make tiny triangle cuts for claws. Attach to bun bottom with mustard, for feet. You can use pickles too. Use mustard or shredded carrots to make "fur."

Cool Dog: Repeat procedure substituting a cheese stick for the hot dog.

Buried bones

Give each child a

chocolate pudding cup
Oreo to crumble for dirt
gummy worms
M&Ms for rocks
small dog biscuit shaped cookie

Let them have fun burying their bones and then eating them!

Teacher Omi's story corner

Round out your Bluey lesson plans with further recommended reading on books about dogs. This bibliography categorizes books about dogs for various reading levels and interests.

Classic Tales & Award-Winners

"Lassie Come-Home" by Eric Knight: The iconic story of a loyal collie’s long journey to reunite with her family.
"Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson: A timeless, bittersweet tale about a boy and his brave, stray dog.
"Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor: A Newbery Medal-winning story about a boy who protects a mistreated dog.
"Because of Winn-Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo: A heartwarming story about how a dog helps a young girl navigate life and make new friends.
"The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford: The classic adventure of two dogs and a cat traversing the wilderness to find their home.
"101 Dalmatians" by Dodie Smith: An exciting original adventure story featuring a family of spirited dalmatians.

Picture Books (Preschool – Grade 3)

"Biscuit" series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli: These gentle, heartwarming stories follow a sweet, yellow puppy who loves to explore and learn new things.
"Spot" series by Eric Hill: These interactive lift-the-flap books feature the inquisitive and adventurous puppy, Spot, as he discovers the world around him.
"Clifford the Big Red Dog" by Norman Bridwell: The beloved series about a giant red dog and his human, Emily Elizabeth.
"Harry the Dirty Dog" by Gene Zion: A funny, classic story about a dog who hates baths and gets into mischief. (Teacher Opi--Grandpa's favorite)
"Go, Dog. Go!" by P.D. Eastman: A simple, rhythmic, and entertaining book often used for beginning readers.
"The Poky Little Puppy" by Janette Sebring Lowrey: A classic Little Golden Book about a curious puppy exploring the world.
"Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy" by Lynley Dodd: A rhythmic, rhyming classic about a Skye terrier and his canine friends.
"Can I Be Your Dog?" by Troy Cummings: A sweet, modern story about a homeless dog named Arfy who writes letters to potential families.
"Gaston" by Kelly DiPucchio: A charming tale about a bulldog raised by a poodle family.

Chapter & Middle-Grade Books (Ages 8–13)

"A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray" by Ann M. Martin: A moving story told from the perspective of a stray puppy.
"The Eyes and the Impossible" by Dave Eggers: A Newbery Medal-winning, art-centric tale told from a dog's witty, unique point of view.
"I, Cosmo" by Carlie Sorosiak: A heartfelt story narrated by a golden retriever who tries to keep his family together.
"Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam" by Cynthia Kadohata: A poignant story about a young soldier and his brave bomb-sniffing dog.
"Ribsy" by Beverly Cleary: A humorous adventure about the antics of a boy and his dog in the mid-20th century. (Teacher Omi's FAVORITE from childhood!!)

Nonfiction & Activity-Based Books

"National Geographic Kids: Everything Dogs" by Rebecca Baines: A fact-filled guide packed with canine information and photographs.
"Dogs at Work: Good Dogs. Real Jobs." by Margaret Cardillo: A picture book exploring the many real-world jobs that dogs perform, from therapy to rescue work.
"My Dog!: A Kids' Guide to Keeping a Happy and Healthy Pet" by various authors: A practical guide for children on how to care for a canine companion.

✀ Recycle bin craft project: "Scrappy" the Puppy

This project focuses on using common household recyclables to create a cute, textured puppy.

What You’ll Need

Recycled Cardboard: Cereal boxes, shipping boxes, or toilet paper rolls.
Adhesive: School glue, glue stick, or masking tape.
Cutting Tools: Kid-safe scissors (or a plastic knife if using the biscuit template method).
Color/Texture: Old magazines, scraps of colored paper, or markers.
Optional: Bottle caps (for eyes), yarn scraps (for a tail).

Steps for Little Creators

The Base: Take a cardboard toilet paper roll or a small rectangle of cereal box cardboard to act as the puppy's body.
The Shapes: Use your DIY Biscuit/Template method to trace and cut out two ear shapes, a tail, and four paw shapes from your scrap cardboard.
Assembly: Help the kids glue or tape the ears to the top and the tail to the back. Glue the paws to the bottom of the body base.
"Fur" & Decorating: This is the fun part! Let the kids tear up old magazines or construction paper into tiny pieces. Glue these "scraps" all over the body to create a colorful, textured "fur" coat.
Face: Use bottle caps for eyes, or draw them on with markers. You can even use a small scrap of paper to make a heart-shaped nose.

Teacher Omi's Earth-Friendly Tip: When you're done, remember to collect all the tiny paper scraps that fell on the table and add them to your compost bin, or save them in a jar for your next collage project!