Building a Closed System Terrarium
You could do this together, step by step or give them all of the materials and information needed to do it by themselves.
Could be a group activity or an individual activity so each student can take home a terrarium
Succulents and Cacti will not work in closed system terrariums
Opportunity to show students how to propagate spider, ivy and other plants that can possibly go into the terrarium. You could also have students buy their own plants.
Great online water cycle interactive resource: https://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle-kids-adv.html
List of Materials
Large mason jar with cover (or any type of glass jar with a cover)
Small rocks (aquarium rocks work perfectly)
Activated Charcoal (optional)
Soil
Plants that grow well in a closed terrarium (succulents and cactus will not work)
Moss (living or fake…optional)
Decorations (optional)
1 inch layer of rocks on the bottom
1 tsp of activated charcoal (optional)
About 3 inches of soil
Put the plants in the soil
Add moss
Add any decor
Use a spray bottle to spray water in the terrarium
Close the lid
Watch the water cycle in action
Lesson Plan Link/URL
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JcsxofgsUb4_78o3FWXPvVoDo8kr8SAm/edit?u…Subject Area
Science Earth and Space Science E1: Earth Systems Life Science L2: Organisms & Energy Engineering S2: Apply the Engineering Design Process S4: Apply Science to Engineering S6: Apply Communications to EngineeringRelated Content
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