Angry Birds: Crafting the Revolution

"If couples who are in love are called 'love birds', then couples who always argue should be called 'angry birds'." -Author Unknown

Angry Birds have taken over the world, or least it seems like it as I walk up and own the aisles at stores and see them everywhere (including in the gardening section today).  This Christmas I made my first Angry Birds craft, an ornament for my Christmas tree.  I found this craft about a year ago on Homemade Beauties by Heidi.  I have been thinking about using this game as a team game for middle school students, where one team works together to use boxes to protect their pigs and the other team take turns trying to knock the pigs down.  With it being the week of Earth Day and Arbor Day, I decided it was time to recycle some of my cans into pigs. 

Bird Materials:

Red Ball ($1.50 from Walmart)

Yellow, White, and Black Acrylic Paint

Black Puff Paint

Paint Brush

Bird Directions:

1. Paint a triangle on the middle of the ball for the beak with the yellow paint.  Paint a smaller yellow triangle under it to the far left.  Let dry.

2. Paint two white eyes on the bird.  Let dry.

3. Paint eyebrows above the eyes to make the bird 'angry' with the black paint. Let dry.

4. Outline eyes and beak with black puff paint. Paint the birds pupils with the puff paint. 

5. With the back of the paint brush add white dots to the pupils.

Pig Materials:

Cleaned Aluminum Cans (One big can if you want to make a King Pig)

Green, White, and Yellow Acrylic Paint

Black and Red puff paint

Paint Brushes

Pig Directions:

1. Paint the cans green. Let dry.

2. Mix some white paint with the green paint to create a lighter green color for the pig's snout.  Paint a oval in the middle of the can for the snout. Let Dry.

3. Paint eyes using the white paint and let dry. 

4. Using the black puff paint paint eyebrows, pupils, and nostrils on the pigs.

5. Using the white paint, Black puff paint, and red puff paint, paint a variety of faces on the pigs.  You can use either the faces I chose or look up some other pig faces from the games.  I am thinking a mustache pig would be awesome!

6. Paint a yellow crown on the King Pig if you chose to make one.

This game is fun for all ages, and adored by those obsessed with Angry Birds or Bad Piggies.  I just made the red bird, however different color balls could make different birds.  Want to learn more about birds out in nature that are angry?  Check out National Geographic's Angry Birds: 50 True Stories of the Fed Up, Feathered, and Furious.

Just a note, this game is a hit with preschoolers.  Just set it up and let them hit them over.  You can work on sharing skills or just have fun.  It will keep them entertained for a while.