Night Owl Project

Length of Project:
Project theme:
Suitable for grades:
Looking for a fun MakerSpace project for your kids? Check Out This Night Owl Project by 'Mrs Moneca Conway's MakerSpace SD60'!
Watch Step by Step Tutorial
Tools & Materials
Material List
  • 1-3 Large Nails
  • 2-3 Small Nails
  • 2-Screws 3”10-24
  • 2-Screws ½” 6-32
  • 2-Nuts 6-32
  • 2-Washers ¼”
  • 3-Lath Screws Phillips Truss Head 8x9/16 2
  • Bottle Caps
  • 2-Jar Lids
  • 2-796ml Tin Cans
  • String
  • LED Tea Light
  • Steal Wire 18 Gauge
  • 12” to 15” Stick
  • 1A - Night Owl Project Blueprint Page 1
  • 1B- Night Owl Project Blueprint Page 2
Tool list
  • Wood Work Surface
  • Scotch Tape
  • Sharpie Marker
  • Scissors
  • Gorilla Glue (Optional)
  • Metal Shears
  • Hammer
  • Robertson Screwdriver
  • Phillips Screwdriver
  • Drill Bits 1/8
  • Drill Bits 6/16
  • Electric Hand Drill
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Towel
  • Safety Glasses
  • Work Gloves
Procedure
  1. Fill the two 796 ml cans with water, leaving 2 cm at the top (let freeze overnight).
  2. Take your Blueprint 1A and cut on the blue line.
  3. Lay towel on work bench to prevent can from rolling around (will also absorb moisture).
  4. Tape Blueprint 1A to one of the tin cans using scotch tape (put the tin can seam to the back).
  5. Push the top of the blueprint onto the top of the can.
  6. Large nail/hammer: Hammer holes as directed on blueprint (black bold holes and lines are for large nail holes).
  7. Small nail/hammer: Hammer holes as directed on blueprint (red lines are for small nail holes).
  8. Remove blueprint from tin can.
  9. Large nail/hammer: Hammer two holes, 2” apart on bottom of tin can.
  10. Place tin can in warm water to melt ice. Let can air dry.
  11. Blueprint 1B - Cut top and bottom blue lines (do not cut beak or wings).
  12. Tape blueprint to can (tape seam to back).
  13. Small nail/hammer: Hammer holes on the feather part of the wing (red lines are for small holes).
  14. Large nail/hammer: Hammer last 3 holes (black bold lines are for large nail holes).
  15. Cut tape and remove blueprint carefully (will need to use it later).
  16. Cut out wing and beak from blueprints.
  17. Place wing over original spot/Trace outside wing A using black marker.
  18. Repeat for Wing B.
  19. Cut out Wing A and B and beak using shear cutters.
  20. Form beak by crimping and crumpling aluminum (use needle nose pliers).
  21. Attach beak (use Phillips and 1 lath 8x9/16 screw). Do not screw in all the way, leaving room to attach wire eyebrows.
  22. Cut 12” steel wire 18 gauge for owl eyebrows.
  23. Twist wire around sharpie marker making a spring.
  24. Place wire under screw that attaches to tin can/tighten using Phillips screwdriver. Trim wire if needed.
  25. Place bottle caps onto wood surface. Hammer holes into bottle caps where you want eyes to be.
  26. Screw 1/4 washers to bottle caps.
  27. Large nail/hammer - Hammer holes through the jar lids (these holes will be closer to the edge of the lids).
  28. Screw on the bottle cap eyes to the jar lids then attach to the tin can (using Phillips screwdriver).
  29. Bend wings to flare out at the bottom.
  30. Take Wing A. Place it over top hole where it lines up (use Robertson screwdriver, 1/2” 6-32 screws and 6-32 nuts to attach Wing to owl)
  31. Repeat for second wing.
  32. Drill two, 2” holes into tree branch (use electrical hand drill and a 6/16 bit). These holes are where the owl’s legs will be attached to the stick.
  33. Screw in two, 3”, 10-24 screws through the stick and into can. Then attach 10-24 nuts to the screws.
  34. Cut a 20” length of string (attach to the owl using the top holes provided).
  35. Place LED light in owl.
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