I was one of those kids who saved her money, in bear-shaped piggy bank that my grandfather painted pink. I loved collecting coins that were "different," such as silver dollars and 50-cent pieces. Try out this friendly, feathered coin bank to get kids excited about saving. Use a clear plastic bottle and they can watch their banks fill up, knowing they've got a pile of savings for an excursion, a toy or a donation.

materials
- empty, clear plastic bottle (A 2-liter soda or juice bottle works well)
- construction paper in different colors or patterns
- scissors
- glue
- tape
- magazine
- Pipe Cleaners
directions
- With the bottle upright, cut a slot near the top for the coins. (This step should be done by an adult.)
- Cut a piece of construction paper to wrap around the body of the bottle, leaving a half-inch gap where the ends of the paper would meet. This will allow kids to see their coins add up.
- Cut an oval shape from a different color paper and glue it to the belly of the bird bank.
- Cut two pieces of paper into wing shapes, like an elongated spade, with a pointed end and a rounded end. The rounded end should have a "stem," which you'll use to attach it to the bottle.
- Tear pieces of magazine pages into inch-long strips to create feathers for the wings. You could use craft feathers instead.
- Glue the torn pieces of magazine to the wings and allow them to dry.
- Fold back each wing's stem/tab and use glue to attach them to the side of the bottle.
- Cut a pipe cleaner into a three-inch length, then fold it in half.
- Glue this V-shaped pipe cleaner to the bottle cap to create a spiky crest for your bird.
- Cut out two eyes and a beak and glue them to the face.
- Cut two pieces of paper into feet shapes and glue them to the ends of two pipe cleaners.
- Bend the pipe cleaners to create legs and tape the other ends underneath the bottle.
- Perch your bird in a visible spot to collect coins.
Comments