How to Build a Simple Birdhouse

Materials: 1 small wooden box or pre-cut wood pieces ruler pencil 6 small nails or screws hammer or screwdriver wood glue sandpaper paint (optional) 1 short stick for perch drill with adult help

Steps: 1. Plan the house. Choose a box about 8 inches tall. If using flat wood pieces, lay them out as front, back, two sides, floor, and roof. 2. Mark the entrance. On the front piece, draw a circle about 2 inches wide, 2 inches below the top. Ask an adult to drill the hole. 3. Make drainage holes. Drill two tiny holes in the floor so rainwater can drip out instead of collecting inside. 4. Sand rough edges until the wood feels smooth. 5. Attach the walls. Put a thin line of wood glue along the edges and join the sides to the floor. Add nails or screws to make the house strong. 6. Add the front and back pieces. Check that the entrance hole faces outward. 7. Attach the roof last. Let one side hang over a little so rain is less likely to blow inside. 8. If you want, paint only the outside in dull colors. Let it dry completely. 9. Push or glue a short stick under the entrance hole for a perch. 10. Hang or mount the birdhouse in a quiet place. Keep it high enough to stay away from cats and other animals.

Note: Do not put birdseed inside the house. Birds use a birdhouse for shelter and nesting, not as a feeder.