Exploring nature

Cut here

Newspaper tubes

Newspaper tubes

Straws

(A)

(B)

(C)

Bottle mansions

Aim of activity Make a mansion fit for a queen (bee)! Recycle a plastic bottle by filling it with materials to help hibernating minibeasts. Make them feel snug as a bug!

What you’ll get out of it •Careforwildlife.•Recycleolditemsfornewpurposes.

30 mins

Give it a go

What you’ll need •Aclean,smallplasticbottle(70clapprox)

per girl •Scissors,1pairpergirl•Apackofplasticdrinkingstraws•Newspaper•Stickytapetoshareamongthegroup

©Girlguiding2017Registeredcharitynumber306016.

Brownies Bottle mansions Feb 18.indd 1 07/03/2018 09:57

4Get creative by using a plastic bottle to makeaminibeastmansion.Yourfinishedcreationcouldbecomeawinterhomeforladybirds,beetlesorbees.

What to doStartasagroupandthinkaboutwhatkindsofminibeastsyouhave

seeninyourlocalarea,forinstancesnails,butterflies,worms,beetles,ants.

Whatkindofplacesdotheyliketolivein?Suggestions:flowerbeds,underrocks.

Now,eachgetaplasticbottleandcutitacrossthemiddle(askaleader

ifyouneedhelp)sothebottleiscutinhalflikeinpictureA.

Takesomenewspaperandrollthesheets into tubes. Make sure they

aren’t too tight by checking you can still fityourfingerdownthem.Onceyouhaverolledatube,secureitwithalittlebitoftapetostopitunrolling.Youshouldrepeatthisuntilyouhavearoundfivetoten tubes.

1

2

6

7

8

5

3

Put your tubes into your bottle until it’s about three-quarters full

like in picture B. Make some more if you needto.

If your tubes are longer than the bottle,cutoffanyextrapaper

sticking out so that they are all level with the bottle.

Fill in any gaps by poking straws between the newspaper tubes.

Again,trimtheendsoffsothey’relevelwiththebottle.Thereshouldbenoemptyspacesleftinthebottle,likeinpictureC.

You’vefinished!Nowyourbottle is a waterproof shelter that will

give minibeasts somewhere to stay warm andhidden.

Comebacktogetherasagroupandshow each other your minibeast

houses.Wheremightyoursgo?Youcouldtieapieceofstringtothebottleandhangitup,orfindagoodspotontheground–differentplacesattractdifferentcreatures.Talkaboutgoodplacestoputthem,anddecidewhereyou’regoingtoputyours!

Take it furtherMonitoryourbottlemansionandreportbacktoyourunit.Whichonehashadthemostvisitors?

2017UMAHA0206

Brownies Bottle mansions Feb 18.indd 2 07/03/2018 09:57