- Ages 7–10
- 1 hour
- Hand tools + drill
Succulent Planter
A simple box planter for succulents or a windowsill herb garden, built from a single 1x4 board with five square cuts.
$7.00
- Ages 7–10
- 1 hour
- Hand tools + drill
Tray Bird Feeder
This is a hand-tools woodworking plan for builders ages 7-10, designed to finish in about 45-60 minutes. It includes a cut list, full-size templates, a step-by-step build sheet, and a general shop-notes guide, so your builder measures and cuts every piece in a miter box while an adult handles the drilling.
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Project specs
| Age group | Ages 7–10 |
|---|---|
| Project length | 1 hour |
| Build time | 45-60 minutes |
| Tools | Hand tools + drill |
| Finished size | Tray floor about 8in x 7in, assembled on 1-1/2in tall rail walls (height approximate, based on the cut list; not stated as a single finished-size figure in the plan) |
| Measurements | Imperial (inches) |
| Pages | 7-page PDF |
| Price | Home $5.00 · Classroom & Group $10.00 |
About this project
Your builder measures two boards, cuts six parts in a miter box, and puts together an open tray feeder that hangs from four corner screw eyes. The tray floor is made from two 1x4 boards side by side, held together by 1x2 rails standing on edge. Full-size templates stick right onto the wood, so every cut line and screw mark is already marked out — no copying measurements by hand.
Once it's built, your builder flips it over, twists in the screw eyes themselves, ties on the hanging cords, fills it with seed, and hangs it somewhere they can watch for visitors from a window. It's a short, satisfying first project: real lumber, real screws, and a finished feeder they can point to and say "I built that."
Skills you'll practice
- Measuring and marking a board from a template or cut list
- Making straight, square cuts in a miter box
- Driving screws with a screwdriver
- Twisting in screw eyes by hand
- Working from a shopping list and cut list
Questions
What wood do I need to buy?
One 4 ft length of 1x4 pine and one 4 ft length of 1x2 pine. That's enough for the whole tray feeder, with a little extra built in for a practice cut.
Does my child need to use a power drill?
No. Your builder cuts every part by hand in a miter box. An adult handles all the drilling — the drain holes, the screw holes, and the screw-eye starter holes.
How long does this project take?
About 45 to 60 minutes of shop time, from the first cut to hanging the finished feeder.
Can we paint or finish it?
Yes. You can leave the tray unfinished, or paint just the outside with a non-toxic, exterior-rated paint.
What skills will my child practice?
Measuring, making square cuts in a miter box, driving screws, and twisting in screw eyes.
Is this a good first woodworking project?
Yes. It's part of our ages 7-10 hand-tools series — every cut is a straight cut in a miter box, and an adult runs the drill.
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