If you are planning to take part in The Big Schools Bird Watch, this pinecone birdfeeder might be the perfect activity, which has been inspired by the RSPB’s craft.

Image source: Preschool Inspirations

Instructions:

1. Make your bird mix with the bird seed, raisins and peanuts and grated cheese.
2. Leave the lard out to warm up to room temperature and then cut into small pieces.
3. Add the lard and the bird mix into the mixing bowl and use your fingertips to mix together until the fats hold the ingredients together.
4. Get all of your cones and loop the string around the top of them so they are secure.
5. Use your hands to pack the bird mixture around the cones. Try to fit as much in as possible.
6. Once you are finished put your cones into the fridge for around an hour to set.
7. After this, you can hang up your feeders on the trees and watch the birds coming to visit for a snack!

This simple recipe is from BBC Bitesize. You could use this craft to celebrate Chinese New Year in your setting with the children.

Instructions:

1. Stir the water into the flour until mixed - add more water if the mixture seems dry.
2. Knead the dough with your hands and add a little bit of flour if it’s sticky.
3. Put the dough in a bowl, covered with a clean, damp towel, and let it rest for around 20 minutes.
4. After resting, tear the dough into sixteen equal-sized pieces and flatten them into round flat pancakes.
5. Add all of the filling ingredients into a bowl; and mix together.
6. Place a spoonful of filling into of each pancake and add a little bit of water to the edges of the pancakes.
7. Fold the dough in half and pinch the edges together with your fingers.
8. An adult will then need to boil a pan of water, to then add the dumplings and put on the lid.
9. Boil the dumplings for three to four minutes and then serve.
10. *Optional* You could add a little dish of soy sauce for dipping, as seen in the image above.

Ingredients:

• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Blueberries

Equipment:

• Kebab sticks
• Small knife for chopping
• Chopping board
• Colander/sieve
• Plate for serving

Method:

1. Wash your berries and grapes in the colander/sieve.

2. Cut your strawberries and grapes in half (lengthwise).

3. Thread your ingredients onto the kebab sticks, alternating colours.

(Photo credit to: Pennybird and camera)

The Food Teacher™ Founder and Director, Katharine Tate, has worked as a teacher and education consultant internationally in primary and secondary schools for over 20 years. Qualified as an award winning registered nutritional therapist, Katharine, combines her unique education and nutrition expertise to offer schools, organisations and families advice, education programmes, practical workshops, and individual/family clinical consultations. She has written and published several books: “Heat-Free & Healthy”, the award-winning

“No Kitchen Cookery for Primary Schools” a series of Mini-Books and has also

co-authored the award-winning “Now We’re Cooking!” Delivering the National

Curriculum through Food. She has also launched a programme of Young Chef

awards for schools, which support delivery of the curriculum and nutrition. In

2019, over 4,000 children completed the awards across the UK.

LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

You will need:

• Paper plate
• Liquid glue
• Paintbrush
• Green and red craft paper
• Pom poms or anything you would like to add as a decoration
• Red and green pipe cleaners

Instructions:

1. Cut out a circle in the middle of your paper plate, so it resembles a wreath.
2. Cut up your green craft paper into longs strips (long enough to cover the paper plate).
3. Spread some of the glue on the paper plate using your paintbrush. Don’t go all over it, do it in parts, so that the glue doesn’t dry up.
4. Stick the green strips of paper over the paper plate so the entire wreath is covered.
5. Now you can add your decorations. You can create a bow with the red craft paper to stick on the wreath and use your pom poms to decorate as you like.
6. Wrap two pieces of pipe cleaners (one red and one green) around each other and then attach it to your wreath if you would like to hang it up.
7. You are done!