You can combine science with crafts in a green craft project, and the finished products make attractive and interesting displays. Unlike other crafts, living craft projects grow and change rather than gather dust. Here are some ideas on how to do some of these green crafts with your kids.
1. Terrarium
Few crafts teach children so much about how an ecosystem works than a terrarium. And it gets better - you can teach your kids about recycling at the same time by planting your terrarium in a used 2-liter plastic bottle. Here's how.
Materials:
* Empty, clear 2-liter plastic bottle
* Small pot or container that will fit inside the bottle
* Pea-sized gravel
* Potting soil
* Assorted plants or seeds
* Scissors or sharp knife
Using the scissors or knife (a serrated bread knife works best), cut the bottom off the bottle. Place some gravel in the bottom of the container for drainage. Then add the soil and plant the plants or seeds. Water your seeds or plants well, then place the top of the bottle over the container. For fun, let your kids put tiny figurines or houses in the dirt around the plants (if using seeds, these fun additions can be added later). Cap the bottle and place it in a sunny spot.
2. Plants in Cans
This is another project that makes use of recycling. Save up your soup cans and give this a try.
Materials:
* Seeds or seedlings (herbs do well in pots, especially parsley, basil, mint, and chives)
* Potting soil
* Large nail
* Hot glue gun
* Objects such as beads and buttons that can be glued onto the outside of the cans (you can also use paint or stickers)
Before beginning, remove the labels from the cans. Some soaking in warm, soapy water usually accomplishes this. Then, using a large nail, punch three or four holes in the bottom of each can (this is a job for an adult, of course!). Let kids decorate the cans as they like, and then fill the cans with soil. Plant seeds or seedlings and place in a sunny window or outdoors.
3. Container Garden
Container gardening can be a lot of fun for kids, especially because some of the more boring tasks of gardening, such as weeding and tilling, are not necessary with containers. Also, you can move the containers to sunny spots as needed. You can do a great many fruits or vegetables in containers; this project focuses on strawberries, a favorite among kids.
Materials:
* Hanging plant baskets (you can use lots of different containers for strawberries, too)
* Potting soil
* Strawberry "plugs," or seedlings
* Compost or humus
Plant only one strawberry plant per hanging basket. Your child might enjoy several of these hanging in layers on shepherd's staffs or from your porch. Fill the basket with potting soil and dig a small hole in the center. Make sure it's deep enough for the entire "plug" to be under the soil. Water, and feed periodically through the growing season by working compost into the soil.
Variation: cucumbers can be grown in hanging baskets, too. Choose a small variety of pickling cucumbers.
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