Print This Craft

Preschoolers and early elementary students will enjoy making this easy Paper Plate Bluebird. You can change the colors to make your own flock of birds out of paper plates and paint. This project is good for a group of kids or just one. The result is satisfying and will be displayed with pleasure.

Trivia:

Did you know the eastern Bluebird is the state bird New York and Missouri.  Source: National Geographic – Bluebirds.

Supplies

• Paper Plate
• Scissors
• Paint
• Wiggle Eyes
• Tacky Glue
• Large Paper Clip
• Feathers (optional)
• Black Marker (optional)
• Paintbrush (sponge makes it go faster)

Instructions

1. Fold the paper plate in half and cut off the outer rim, leaving enough to create tail feathers. Cut a notch out to form the head. I trimmed the outer most edge of the tail feathers to create a worm. Use the picture as a reference.
2. Lay the plate flat and paint the outside, we used blue but use whatever you have on hand to create your own bird.  Take part of the remved notch to create a beak and paint yellow or orange.  I painted my worm green. Let dry.
3. Fold painted paper plate again and glue on feathers for wings, or draw them on with your black marker.  Fold yellow notch over end of bird and glue to form beak. I held mine secure with a paper clip while it dried. When dry I made little worm eyes with the black marker and glued worm up under the beak. You could also use raffia to represent nest building materials.
4. Stand your bird up on the round edge and he will look like he is flying away with his treasure. Let the kids create their own color scheme. Nature is full of exotic species.