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Below are directions for making biospheres in a jar. You may select any ecosystem to replicate in your jar and include whatever you can find around the school or at home. If you want to add snails or small animals please talk to me first.
Before jumping into making your jars you will need to plan out what key components you want to include that are also found in ecosystems. You will need to support your decisions at the end of the activity. Use the following link, to access a Google Doc with a chart for your preplanning. Then, upload your chart to Google Classroom.
Obtain a clean mason jar
Obtain a clean mason jar
The jar must be clean to avoid mold growth
Add a 1-inch layer of clean sand
Add a 1-inch layer of clean sand
This will be the drainage layer & water basin
Add a 1-inch layer of activated charcoal
Add a 1-inch layer of activated charcoal
This will filter your biosphere & clean it
Add 2-inches of soil
Add 2-inches of soil
You will want to pick a soil that drains well
Add a rock or two
Add a rock or two
This is for decoration
Add plants & bark
Add plants & bark
Add slow growing plants like moss
Water your Biosphere
Water your Biosphere
Just enough water to saturate the soil
Cap your Biosphere
Cap your Biosphere
This will lock in the moisture
Place in a Window
Place in a Window
Avoid direct sunlight to avoid over heating
After you have created your Biosphere Jar go back to your Google Doc to write a short summary (5-8 sentences) detailing all of the components in your jar that are also found in your ecosystem.
You will present your biospheres on Family Night alongside a PowerPoint presentation. More details will be given tomorrow in class about your Final Culminating Projects for our unit, Saving our World - One Ecosystem at a Time.
Have fun and let me know if you have any questions!
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