“Tinker box” bird feeders are an activity that allow students in grades 3-8 to “tinker” with materials on their own. Cooperative Extension gave out more than 100 boxes to parents for Earth Day.

Children and families involved with the 4-H program were able to roll up their sleeves and learn how to “tinker” and engage with Earth Day, thanks to a DIY learning module from A&T’s Cooperative Extension.

“Tinker boxes” are an at-home learning activity geared towards providing families the opportunity to engage in STEM activities together at home. Designed for students in grades 3-8, the boxes come pre-loaded with items used to help youth learn how to “tinker,” build and learn at their own pace. Parents register for a themed box and then assist their child to complete the activities.

“Each box comes with one activity,” said Misty Blue-Terry, Ph.D., 4-H STEM specialist for Extension. “The box contains a welcome letter, the instructions on how to complete the activity, the science behind the lesson to help parents explain what’s going on, all the materials needed to do the experiment or challenge, and a link to an evaluation once they are finished.”

On national celebrations and holidays, the boxes have a theme. For Earth Day, families who registered for a box had the choice to study germination and grow a garden in a glove, or study local bird species and build bird houses from craft sticks.

The “Garden in a Glove” box contained a clear, non-latex glove, five different seeds, five cotton balls, and string. The “Bird Feeder” box contained 45 craft sticks, one jumbo craft stick, glue, string, and a small bag of bird seed.

From an environmental perspective, Blue-Terry said, the boxes “generate a knowledge-based awareness of how we can study and support our environment. It's also important to bring families together around the agricultural concepts of where food comes from and alternative ways to grow food. Once the seeds germinate, they can be planted in soil and later harvested.”

According to Blue-Terry, the boxes have been popular, with 244 families requesting a box for Earth Day - well over the 200-family goal.

“We had an overwhelming response to the Earth Day box,” said Blue-Terry. “We had to close registration early.”

Families who missed the Earth Day box needn’t worry, however. Tinker boxes are available from Cooperative Extension, mablue@ncat.edu.