Found-Object Food Jar Terrariums

Science in a jar is something that scores me some serious cool points in the scientist in training universe. That’s especially true when it means that we can head out for a walk around our local park – or even the backyard – with express permission to pick up, handle, pack away and take home anything cool and natural found along the way.

I woke up the other morning to a countertop full of empty food jars with lids – which completely stumped me since it seems practically impossible to amass such a collection without realizing it.

Luckily, I got to my e-mail and found the daily dose of Design Sponge before running off to the return center because there it was – my cool points for at least a week.

The tiny person just about lost her mind when she saw some awesome food jar terrariums up on the screen. “Now we know what to do with mossy!” she screeched referring to her moss friend whom we have lovingly housed on the porch since finding him in January.

And, so began our terrarium home-building adventure – mossy in tow.

Here’s what you need:

- Some moss

- Some things that grow in moss, like a flower, and things you’d find near moss like pine cones, grass, pieces of bushes, etc.

- Glass jars of all sizes with lids

Directions:

1. Go collecting and spread it out on a table,

2. Clean and dry jars and lids,

3. Put the moss on the lid, adding flowers, cones and other cool things. We wet the moss just a bit too for a little moisture,

4. Gently put the glass over the creation and twist the lid on to secure it all, and

5. Find a gorgeous location for your mini-ecosystems to live. They are great fun to watch and see. Plus, they are so pretty.

Happy Tuesday!

Tags: children, Comox Valley, craft tutorial, crafts, creativity, Kid Science, Kids, nature, Our Big Earth Media Co., science, terrarium, terrariums, Vancouver Island

Category: ARTS & LITERACY, Crafts, Nature's Classroom