How to Build a Temporary Terrarium

Building a thriving terrarium that lasts requires a bit of soil skill (layering rocks, sand, and earth to ensure proper drainage and aeration of the dirt).  In this house, "ain't nobody got time for that" so, instead, we decided to make a temporary terrarium that we will return to its natural environment after my Little Observers have finished their exploration of this miniature world in a jar! Would you like to make a "Temporary Terrarium" with us? Get out your magnifying glasses and come along with us!

1. Find a shady spot in your yard or the woods after a few days of rain. No doubt you will find many little plants that were not there before! We found some lichen, a mushroom and moss hiding under our pine tree.

2. Place a small layer of moist soil into the base of a mason jar.

3. Carefully pull up the items you want to place in your Temporary Terrarium. Do your best to keep some of the soil surrounding the items. Gently press the items into the mason jar to rest on top of the soil.

4.  Explore the contents of the terrarium with a magnifying glass. Take time to make close up drawings of what you observe in your nature journal!

5. Occasionally spray the contents with a mister and return all items gently to their original location within  a couple of weeks.

And that's all folks! STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) study at its easiest - just by getting out into nature!