Science Experiments: 1) Ecosystem in a Bottle

We have started doing a long unit on science. We'll be doing lots of hands-on experiments over the next six or eight weeks. Obviously we do lots of natural sciences -- exploring nature. Earlier this year Logan and Delenn did lapbooks on bats, birds (Australian/Northern Territory), and mice. They've also learned a bit about the critters around us (frogs, cicadas, snails, etc.) This unit will introduce them to some kitchen chemistry.

Well, it's called kitchen chemistry but we started off doing an "ecosystem in a bottle." They put some rocks in the bottom of a jar and shoveled some dirt on top of that. They planted seeds (cucumber, grass, pumpkin and peas) and watched them day by day as they grew. We talked about the condensation that formed at the top of their ecosystem (on the plastic wrap) and talked about how moisture evaporates into the air and then falls as rain (eventually). Once the little plants were big enough they planted them in our vegetable garden.