EM3050 Activity: Make Your Own Water Cycle Terrarium
OBJECTIVES
To learn about the water cycle as a closed system and factors that influence that cycle.
MATERIALS
Computer/phone to access supplemental materials
Paper, pencil for brainstorming
Empty, clean glass jar with lid -- e.g. spaghetti sauce jar, mason jar, peanut butter jar
Small rocks
A few spoonfuls of soil
Little plants: mosses, baby tears, creeping fig, lemon button fern, spider plant
See what mosses you have in your backyard!
ACTIVITY
1. Explore the water cycle.
- The water cycle is a bit of magic that happens all day everyday everywhere on Earth. Where do you think it starts?
- Pick any point and you would be right. In the most simple terms, moisture gathers in the sky, in the form of clouds. It falls to the Earth as rain or snow or other precicipation. Water gathers in watersheds as wetlands, ponds, lakes, streams and rivers, which all (eventually) flow to the ocean. This water then evaporates into the air, and the cycle continues.
- Can you think of factors that might influence this cycle? Brainstorm some ideas, and visit these websites to learn more. USGS and NASA websites offer easily accessible educational materials and videos.
The Water Cycle for Schools and Students: Advanced students
NASA | Earth's Water Cycle
The Water Cycle - What are five Natural factors that impact the water cycle?
- What are five Human factors that impact the water cycle?
2. Make a terrarium to see the water cycle in action!
- Set out all your materials and begin building your terrarium.
- Decide if you want to set up your terrarium horizontally (lying down with lid on end) or vertically (standing up with lid on top).
- Add a layer of stones at the bottom.
- Add a healthy layer of soil.
- Plant your plants.
- Add some decorations -- little sticks, rocks, mini toys. Have fun with it!
- Spray with some water and close the lid.
- Watch your plants thrive!
A few tips...
1. Leave the lid on. The water cycle is a closed system. The lid represents our atmosphere.
2. A healthy ratio for your terrarium is 1/3 filled and 2/3 space.
3. If you see mold growing on the inside lid, open the jar and let it dry out a bit.
4. If your plants are too dry, open the jar, spray the plants a few times and re-seal jar. It may take a few weeks to get the humidity level right, but soon you will have the cycle at work.
Share your photos, journal pages, thoughts, experiences, and/or feedback with us! Post on social media with hashtags:
#umbrellaarts #musketaquid #concordearthday #musketaquidearthday #earthday3050
Or email Caroline at caroline@theumbrellaarts.org
Special thanks to our Earth Month sponsors
