Terrarium

By: Amanda Formaro

Difficulty: Easy

Age: 4 & up

Parental supervision is recommended

You can plant just about any kind of seed in this terrarium. Children love to see the plants growing. Using recycled soda bottles, it makes the perfect Earth Day craft for kids. For more recycled crafts, printables, recipes, and keeping a green home, visit our main Earth Day page.

What you'll need:

  • Plastic 2 liter soda pop bottle with cap
  • Very sharp scissors or craft knife
  • Dirt or potting soil
  • Seeds
  • Water

How to make it:

  1. Remove the label from the bottle. Discard label. Save cap! (See photo.)
  2. Wash and rinse out the bottle and cap.
  3. Cut the bottle close to the bottom. There may be a "line" near the end of where the label was, that's a good place to cut. You can cut it higher if you wish. (See photo.)
  4. Lightly place dirt or potting soil in the base.
  5. Plant a few seeds in the dirt. (See photo.)
  6. Lightly water.
  7. Put the cap on the bottle.
  8. Cover the base with the top of the bottle. You will have to fiddle with it a bit to fit back inside the base. (See photo.)
  9. Place in a sunny spot and watch for your seeds to grow. (See photo.)
  10. When the plants are ready, repot them or plant them in your garden.

Tips:

  • If your soil starts to look a little dry before your seeds come up, you can unscrew the cap and insert the head of spray bottle of water. Spritz several squirts into the terrarium.
  • This project can also be done with individual sized water bottles. Don't plant more than two seeds in a small bottle like this or they will be overcrowded and won't grow.
  • This makes a great classroom project, just ask each student to bring in a water bottle or 2 liter bottle. Ask students if any of their parents have a garden and would be willing to donate seeds. Bird seed will work for the project as well!

Related Crafts:
Milk Carton Bird Feeder
Animal Jars
Recycled Flower Pot 

Related Links:
Earth Day 2010
Earth Day Crafts
Earth Day Recipes
Earth Day Printables
Earth Day at Home

Take a Quiz:
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What’s Your Earth Day IQ?

Notes:

Quick & Easy Craft Videos