It can be tough getting a high school student interested in something new.But when a flock of freshmen at a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, high school were asked to focus on students half their age, they rose to the challenge with flying colors instead of squawking about it.See the story in the video aboveTwo first-grade classes at Pequea Elementary School received the outline of a bird and were asked to decorate the feathered friends."They were also given a little worksheet that had about five questions on it," first-grade teacher Deb Drexel said.The project included practice in crafting, coloring and handwriting for the 6-year-olds and 7-year-olds.The bird drawings then flew off to Penn Manor High School's family and consumer science class, where the designs soared to new heights. The freshmen had to turn the paper peeps into 3D stuffed animals."We wanted to make sure they knew how to work a needle, so they are putting on buttons. They are doing some embroidery stitches," family and consumer sciences teacher Tiffany Zook said."I thought it was really fun, and I liked how it was challenging," student Ryleigh said."The bird, we figured, was just a fun way for them to fly back and forth. And we were able to write some letters to our elementary school pals, too," Zook said."All of them came with letters, so that was exciting. And that was exciting for Mrs. Drexel and I too because some of the high schoolers were former students," first-grade teacher Mary Snyder said.But it was the bird's migration back to first grade about a month later that really got these students chirping."The birds were amazing when they came back. We were just shocked and surprised, and the kids loved them. It was just really, really fun, and we're so glad we did it," Drexel said."One of my students said, 'I think the teacher must have made this one because it's just so good,'" Snyder said."It was really great. I liked it. I can't believe they could make it. I was so surprised. I was so excited. I couldn't even believe my eyes," first grader Andrew Campbell said.He admits his design wasn't easy."Light green, dark green, light green, dark green, and then they did the same thing as me," he said."Some of them drew hearts, of course, or stars and things like that, and the high schoolers either stitched them on or found buttons that looked like those things," Snyder said.Full disclosure: A little birdie told News 8's Meredith Jorgensen about this project when a bird showed up at her house.Her daughter, Wren, named her feathered friend Rainbow. All those colors meant extra sewing at the high school. Because the little kids have never met the high schoolers, a group of first graders were taken to see the students who made their birds."It makes the first graders understand a little bit more that Penn Manor is a big place with lots of little schools but then a school where they all get together when they're older," Snyder said.They brought a message for the big kids."Thank you, and thank you for making it the same way I did," Campbell said."They are also kids at heart, so I think they really enjoyed making the project for them," Zook said.The freshmen enjoyed taking the first graders under their wing."It's cool because I feel like a role model," Luciana said.The teachers and students hope their flight paths will cross again. "I'm hoping that it continues because it does really show a connection between the elementary kids and the high school kids, so I hope it's something that we or even other classes can do year after year," Snyder said.