Make Your Own Ant Farm

Materials Needed:

* Two Jars
* Soil
* Ants
* Cereal or candy for Ants

Directions:

This activity shows you how to make an ant farm with a few common household items.

All you need is a clear, large, wide-mouth plastic container and a smaller plastic container or drinking glass that fits inside, leaving a space about one-half to three-quarters of an inch wide. Careful- if the space is too wide, you won't be able to see the tunnels.

Fill up the area between the two containers with dirt. Add ants from your garden or back yard, and place a screen over the top for air. (If you can dig up a queen ant - she's larger - you'll extend the life of the ant farm.) Every few days drop in a bit of candy, jam or cereal. In a week or so, you should have a top-notch tunneling operation.

When your child has finished observing the ant farm, have him or her release the inhabitants back into the yard - their natural habitat. This is a good way to foster respect for all the critters on the planet!