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Making It: Programmes
27–39
Programme 27: Luke, Phumla and Natasha Make Butterfly Feeders
After watching the
programme, pupils should be able to:
- use appropriate tools and techniques to make a
product;
- measure, mark out, cut and shape a range of
materials;
- assemble, join and combine components and materials
accurately;
- use finishing techniques to strengthen and improve
the appearance of their product;
- design and make assignments using stiff and flexible
sheet materials.
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Luke, Phumla and Natasha are playing in their South
African garden. They try feeding the birds, without much success.
They decide to make a feeder for another creature.
They cut the tops off plastic pop bottles and plait ribbons
together to make handles. They use plastic tubs to make lids for
their feeders and thread the handles through them. Next, they
attach the handles to the bottles. When the lids are in place, the
children make holes in the sides of the pop bottles. Finally, they
chop up some sweet oranges and fill the bottles with the sticky
chunks.
Luke, Phumla and Natasha hang their feeders in different parts of
the garden. Soon, butterflies are attracted to the feeders and
begin to suck out the sweet juice with their long tongues. A few
twigs, pushed into the holes in the side of a feeder, give the
butterflies somewhere to rest.
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- Art: investigating and making art, craft and
design.
- Science: living things.
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Butterflies feed on the sweet sugary nectar in
flowers. Butterflies have very long tongues, which they uncoil to
reach the nectar. The tongue (or proboscis) is hollow like a straw,
so the butterfly can suck up the nectar.
There are many different butterflies and each kind has its own wing
pattern. Follow the links from this site to find out more. You
could do a survey in a garden or park to see how many different
types you can spot in your area.
Butterflies are strongly attracted by the scent of nectar, which
they detect with their long antennae. The colour of flowers is also
important. Butterflies prefer blue flowers (such as buddleia,
lavender or lilac) or yellow flowers (such as marigolds), but tend
to avoid red ones.
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Make Your Own Butterfly
Feeder
You will need: plastic bottle;
string or garden wire; pliers to cut the wire (scissors if you're
using string); something to make holes in the bottle (you could use
a small nail or drawing pin, but it's best to use a tool called a
bradawl, which has a sharp point and an easy-to-hold handle). You
also need half a cup of sugar, a jug of water and a large
bowl.
Before you
start: think about how to use the equipment safely and
whether you need an adult to supervise. Check with your teacher if
you are not sure.
- Cut a 20cm length of wire (or string).
- Put the neck of the bottle in the middle of the
wire. Twist the wire around the bottleneck until it is held
tightly.
- Twist or tie the free ends of the wire to make a
loop, so you can hang the bottle up by its neck.
- Carefully make two holes in the base of the bottle.
Try to make the smallest holes possible.
- Put the bottle in a bowl. Dissolve the sugar in a
jug of water and pour it into the bottle. Fix the cap back on the
bottle. Carry the bottle outside in the bowl to stop it making a
mess.
- Hang your bottle outside in an area where you have
seen butterflies.
- The sugar-water will slowly drip out of the bottle
and butterflies will be able to sip from the puddle it makes on the
ground.
Make a Butterfly
Box
A butterfly box gives the
insects a dry safe place to spend the winter.
You will need: 2 pieces
wood, about 30cm long, 5cm wide and 1cm thick; small nails ('panel
pins' which are about 2cm long are ideal); garden wire or string;
three or four twigs about 10cm long; pliers to cut the wire (or
scissors if you're using string); small saw; small hammer; pencil;
ruler; sandpaper and strong waterproof tape (try some called 'duck
tape' if you can get it).
- Draw a line from one corner of a piece of wood to a
point 4 cm down on the opposite side. Do the same with the other
piece of wood.
- Carefully cut off the corners of both pieces of wood
with the saw. Use sandpaper to smooth away any rough edges.
- Put one piece of wood on top of the other. Sandwich
the twigs between the 2 pieces of wood so that they stick out at
right angles on one side …
- Nail the top piece of wood to the bottom one,
trapping the twigs tightly in between …
- Cut a piece of wire (or string). Thread the wire
between the 2 pieces of wood and twist it around the top nail. Tie
the free ends of the wire to make a loop for hanging up the
butterfly box …
- Stick waterproof tape around 3 sides of the
butterfly box to keep rain water out. Leave the narrow gap on the
twig side of the box open for the butterflies to crawl in.
- Hang your box outside in an area where you have seen
butterflies. Watch to see if butterflies land on the twigs and then
crawl inside.
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US websites with galleries and video clips about
butterflies around the world:
http://butterflywebsite.com/index.htm
www.mesc.usgs.gov/resources/education/butterfly/bfly_start.asp
Photographs and information about British butterflies:
www.edinburgh-butterfly-world.co.uk/
Find out about the London Butterfly House:
www.butterflies.org.uk/
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