Making Moss Garden Terrariums

Monday I am making Moss Garden Terrariums with a 4th grade class.

4th grade was a very important year for me.  It was the year I learned about CONSERVATION and ENDANGERED ANIMALS.  It was the year I learned I love SCIENCE!

We are making terrariums to learn about a simple, but valuable plant, the moss and to learn about the cycles in a closed ecosystem.

Down the trail, past the barn, you will find an outcropping of rocks left behind by a glacier.

Here we are seeing the first steps in Ecological Succession. Lichens cover the rock creating organic matter for the moss to live on. 

The lichen and the moss are becoming more established.   
Both lichen and moss are primitive plants that are able to break
down rock into useable material for other plants to grow on. 

By the pond, moss grows very well. Moss like an environment that is moist and shady.

The moss creates organic matter (soil) so vascular plants (plants
with stems such as ferns and small trees) can grow. 

This is a rock on the edge of the pond.  It is covered with fine Sphagnum moss.  When dried, it can be added to top soil to help retain moisture.

In the classroom, I was able to use the Smart Board to show the photos from the farm and my diagrams.

The plastic containers were donated by our local Stop and Shop.

Here are the amounts of gravel, sand, charcoal, and soil needed.

Samples of Sphagnum moss ready to be handed out.

Samples of "cushion" moss.

Samples of Lichen.

It was great to be able to do this project outside!

Adding sand. 

Placing the moss in the terrarium.

Observing our terrariums.

Using a hand lens for up close observations.

The terrariums were sprayed with water and a plastic creature was added.

The next day, condensation could be seen.  We talked about keeping a journal of observations and making sure the terrarium had some sun so the plants can continue to carry on photosynthesis.

View from the top.

I had a great time and I recieved some beautiful "Thank You" notes!