Get ready for the new school year with a fun and useful craft! This Felt Bird Bookmark activity is an easy, no-sew project perfect for students of all ages. Using felt, paper clips, and basic supplies, participants will create colorful bird bookmarks to help keep their place in textbooks and reading assignments. It’s a great way to add a creative break into the busy back-to-school season while making something practical to use all year long.

Materials:

• Felt Sheet or Scraps
• Jumbo Paperclip, 80mm
• Cardstock and Pencil to Draw Bird Shape
• Fabric Scissors
• Hot Glue Gun and Sticks

Step 1: Draw the shape of a bird onto cardstock. You will want to draw individual elements of the bird body with the head and bird wing.

Step 2: Cut out the drawn shapes and use them as a template. Hold the cardstock templates over the felt sheets and cut out the bird shapes. Cut two bird bodies and wings. Cut a small beak and two eyes.

Step 3: Assemble the felt layers. Applying hot glue to the felt, attach the wings to one side of the bird’s body, then repeat on the other side. Next, glue on the beak, followed by the eyes, making sure to match placement on both sides of the bird.

Step 4: Place bird pieces wrong side up on a table surface. Place the paperclip on one of the pieces. Pay attention to the direction of the paperclip. Make sure that it is placed in the orientation that you want the bird to sit atop the book. Add hot glue to secure the paperclip. Glue or sandwich the bird body piece by placing the two main body pieces together and glue along the edges.

Step 5: Trim any misaligned edges. Carefully trim any excess felt sticking out beyond the edges to create a clean, uniform shape

Further Learning and Discussion Questions:

Discussion questions for reflection:
– What is your favorite book or story that features a bird as a main character? Why do you like it?
(Examples might include Owl Moon, Make Way for Ducklings, or The Trumpet of the Swan.)
– Birds are often used as symbols in stories. They can symbolize freedom, wisdom, or transformation. What kind of bird would best represent your reading style or personality, and why?
– How does having a bookmark like this help you stay organized or motivated to read?
– If your felt bird bookmark could come to life and visit the world of a book you’re reading, what story would you send it into and what would it do there?
– What do you notice about real birds in your neighborhood or schoolyard? Can you describe one and compare it to the felt bird you made?

Further Learning
1. Explore the Merlin Bird ID App
Turn your backyard or neighborhood walk into a bird-spotting adventure! The free Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology helps families identify birds by sound, photo, or a few simple questions. Just press “Sound ID” to record chirps and songs, and Merlin will suggest which birds you’re hearing—perfect for curious kids and nature-loving adults. Learn more at: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org

2. Native Plant Finder (by the National Wildlife Federation)
Explore which native plants support the most butterflies, moths, and birds in your zip code. https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder