Best suited for: Early, First & Second Level / Age 0-4, 5-7, 8-11
Maths involved: counting, data collection, data handling
Materials needed:
Pine cone
Natural twine or string – no plastic please!
100% pure peanut butter - no added sugar or salt!
Spatula
Bird seed
Note: If there is a nut allergy concern, this also works with lard instead of peanut butter.
Instructions
Part 1: Make the bird feeder
Step 1: Tie the twine around the pine cone.
Step 2: Use the spatula to press peanut butter in to the gaps of the cone. Please make sure to use 100% pure peanut butter, with no added sugar or salt, so that it’s safe for the birds.
Step 3: Sprinkle bird seed all over the pine cone, pressing it in to the peanut butter.
Step 4: Tie a loop in the twine so you can hang the pine cone up in your garden or playground.
Note: You can also make an alternative bird feeder instead if you have ideas for a different kind. Or you can use a store bought bird feeder – the maths comes in the second part of this activity!
Part 2: Bird Count
Once you’ve hung up the bird feeder, wait until it attracts some birds and then you can count how many birds come. Tally up your results and/ or create a bar chart with your findings. You could compare the number of birds that came on different days of the week.
It is almost time for the RSPB Big Schools’ Bird Watch – the largest citizen science project for schools across the UK. Sign up to take part, from 6th January- 13th February 2026.
We've pulled together all our seasonal resources from the last three years, and thrown in a few new ones too, so that you can create your own Christmas Holiday Countdown depending on age, ability and preferences. With games, puzzles, art and craft activities to choose from, as well as our interactive puzzle mystery story.
