Last Updated on September 7, 2026 by Sheryl Cooper
Inside: Make a bird nest craft using cardboard and paper bags. A great addition to your spring theme!
In April, with so many birds visiting our play yard, I decided it would be fun to make a bird nest craft.
I saw several examples on the web where they used a brown paper lunch sack and decided to try it.
The bird and eggs were cut from cardboard and we used shredded paper inside the nest.
This was simple enough for two and three year olds and they also had fun making them!
Bird Nest Craft Using Cardboard and Paper Bags
Before making this craft, there are some wonderful bird books to use as a reference or to read during circle time:
- Hello World! Birds
- My First Book of Birds
- Mrs. Peanuckle’s Bird Alphabet
- Whose Nest is Best? A Book of Bird Homes
Watch Video
Next, it’s time to collect the supplies.
Supplies
- Cardboard
- Brown paper lunch bags
- Shredded brown paper filler
- Feathers
- Glue bottles (we had leftover tinted glue)
- Googly eyes
Preparation
Cut simple bird shapes and ovals (eggs) from cardboard. (Each child in our class could have up to three eggs.)
Place shredded paper into a container.
Place feathers in another container.
Place googly eyes in a smaller container.
Cut the lunch sacks in half (so that the bag’s sides are not as tall) and fold the edge over.
Step One: Creating the Bird
Place a bird at each spot, along with a bottle of glue, feathers, and googly eyes.
The children can then squeeze the glue on top of the cardboard bird.
Show them how to press the feathers on to the glue, then the eyes.
About Squeezing Glue
My two and three year olds already had experience squeezing glue, so I only needed to assist when necessary.
They knew how to hold the bottle upside down and squeeze with two hands.
If this is new to your children, make sure to show them how to squeeze the glue first so that they don’t get frustrated and give up.
Let the bird completely dry.
We did step one on a separate day.
Step Two: Filling the Nest
Have the children place some shredded paper into their bags (“nests”).
Then, place their birds in their nests along with some eggs.
And that’s it! That’s how we made our bird nest craft using cardboard and paper bags!
More Spring Activities
Flower Color Matching
- Circle Time
- Small Groups
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