The following experiment is a fun and easy way to see the effects of germination and the quick growth of grass
These are the materials needed for the creation of your very own caterpillar:
-All purpose potting soil
-Nylon stocking
-Any quick growing grass seed
-Spoon
-Large bowl
-Paper cup (or any small container that you can cut with scissors)
-Colorful elastic pony tail holders or colored rubber bands
-Pipe cleaner
-Two trash bag ties
-Glue
-Scissors
-Large google eyes (2)
-Small pom poms (2)
-Plastic bag
-Plate or shallow tray
-Water
Methods:
In a large bowl, mix about 4 cups of soilwith 4 spoons of grass seed
Cut the bottom out of a paper cup or small container to create a funnel.
Ask an adult for assistance!
Pour a little less than a cup of the soil/seed mixture into
the stocking
Slide
a ponytail holder or rubber band over the end of the
stocking to section it off a portion of soil.
Repeat
until you have 5 colorful caterpillar segments. ie the
end of the stocking into a knot and cut off any extra
nylon remaining (this will be the nose).
Soak
the caterpillar in water for 10 minutes then allow to sit
in a plastic bag overnight
Remove the bag. To create the eyes stick two trash bag ties
in the front of the stocking above the nose. Glue one
google eye on the end of each trash tie.
To
create the antennae, cut one pipe cleaner in half and glue
one pom pom on the end of each half (or curl the pipe
cleaner into a crazy shape). Stick each antenna into the
stocking behind the eyes of the caterpillar. You can also
use the pipe cleaners as legs for your caterpillar.
Place
your caterpillar on a plate or tray near a sunny window and
water thoroughly every other day.
In 4 to 5 days your caterpillar will begin to grow “hair”!