To get started you'll need:
One big jar with a lid
One smaller jar that fits inside the big one leaving a gap between them
A small container – like a Tupperware dish
Ants from the garden
Some dirt from the garden
A tiny piece of sponge (like the ones we use in the kitchen)
A little bit of honey, sugar, or breadcrumbs
Now let's make our ant farm:
Step 1:
With the help of an adult, poke some tiny holes in the lid of the big jar so that the ants can breathe
Step 2:
Put the small jar upside down inside the big jar. This will keep the ants close to the glass of the outer jar so we can see them better
Step 3:
Fill the space between the jars with dirt. Leave a little bit of space at the top
Step 4:
Let's go outside and look for ants! Look under rocks and dead tree branches. If you see a few ants, then there might be a nest nearby. Use a container to collect around 50-100 ants
Step 5:
Carefully put the ants into the jar. They might need a little help getting in
Step 6:
Ants need food and water to survive. Put a little bit of honey, sugar, or breadcrumbs on the top of the jar. Wet the tiny sponge and put it in too. Close the lid tightly
Step 7:
Remember to give the ants more food and keep the sponge damp. If the dirt gets too dry, add a little bit of water, but just a tiny bit so that we don't drown the ants. Now we have our very own ant farm! We can watch the ants tunnel through the dirt and build their home. It's like having our very own mini bug city!
Share photos of your ant farm using #DobbiesLittleSeedlings and tag us. Bonus points if you snap your creepy crawly visitors!
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