Earth Day Project: Plant Pals

My boys love to do gardening projects. We’ve let them plant their own vegetables in the backyard, and they always get so excited to bring home a potted plant they’ve created at school. So, for Earth Day this Thursday, why not do a fun gardening project with your child? Disney FamilyFun magazine has plenty of ideas. Here’s an easy and adorable project for making “Plant Pals”! Like a Chia Pet, this project requires just a sprinkling of seeds, a bit of sun, and a few drops of patience. (Ages 2 years and up)

Materials

One 9- or 12-ounce plastic cup
1 to 1 1/4 cups of potting soil
1 tablespoon of grass seeds (we bought rye grass at a garden center)
Decorations, such as office dot stickers, markers, and ribbon (for safety, it should measure less than 6 inches long)

Total Time Needed: 1 hour

Instructions

Fill the cup halfway with soil. Divide the remaining soil in two, then have your child measure the seeds and stir them into one of these halves. Tip: To speed germination, you can first soak the seeds in water overnight.

Spoon the seed-filled soil into the cup, then top it with the remaining soil (this final layer should be about 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep). Water the soil well.

Let your child decorate the cup with stickers and markers. Finally, leave the plant in a warm, sunny spot to sprout. Water as necessary to keep the soil about as wet as a damp sponge.

Be sure to check out Disney FamilyFun’s other nature-craft ideas for little ones!