An ecosystem nature jar is a little nature science project that allows you to make your own little world, from your backyard, and see what organisms or critters come about. This can also be easily paid with a learning article from the internet about ecosystems to keep your children involved in learning but also are able to see the fun in learning about nature and science. This activity is for children of all ages, it can be fun to see what your little ones get and they will enjoy seeing the living organisms within the system where as pairing it with a learning article can be done for older children so they are able to learn more in depth information about their ecosystem created.
Materials needed:
- Mason Jar
- Backyard
Step 1: Gather your mason jar and go find a pond/stream/puddle and fill up the mason jar with the water.
Step 2: Recognize the different resources and organisms around that small body of water.
Step 3: Find a base of that water (in and around the water). This can be rocks, sand or dirt and place at in the water. I used a rocky gravel with crushed up leaves/sticks since that is what my pond was surrounded with
Step 4: Next find other organisms that around the water. The is where creativity and individuality comes into play since not every nature jar has to be the same. I chose to put a stick and grass within my jar but you can use whatever you can find!
Step 5: Let the jar sit in the sun if able to, to let the dirt settle. I was able to put mine into the sun but had to move inside after a while. Once clear you will be able to see little critters and microorganisms moving around in their ecosystem. This will mimic what the actual ecosystem has within it.
Tip 1: if you have to move jar be as settle as you can so the water does not mix. The dirt will need to settle again.
Tip 2: Try to recognize the microorganisms by finding a chart online! I was able to recognize little microorganisms in my ecosystem with this chart:
Step 6: LEARN about different systems!
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