gardening

How To Make Plastic Bottle Little Greenhouses | 5 Plastic Bottle Craft Ideas

August 14, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m sharing 5 plastic bottle craft ideas. Also, look at my page Easy Seeds and Gardening Unit Study for Kids (Middle – Upper Elementary) for more ideas.

Too, we’re creating these adorable 2-liter plastic bottle mini greenhouses.

By turning plastic bottles into greenhouses, you’re not only doing science but teaching about upcycling.

In addition, I have a bit of history of greenhouses, and you can have a mini unit study for the day.

Mini greenhouses are a game-changer for any gardener, no matter your skill level!

So this makes for a great hands-on learning project for multiple ages.

How To Make Plastic Bottle Little Greenhouses | 5 Plastic Bottle Craft Ideas

A greenhouse is basically an enclosed space that is heated and lit by the sun.

Now if you were to expand this project into an actual structure, you will want to cover other topics.

Look at these questions and ideas to think about and plan.

what size project is right for your family
how many children will be using the space
who will be maintaining the space and how much time do you have
what do you want to grow. Do you want to grow just vegetables, plants, or explore hydroponics?

Also, for any type of greenhouse, the fun part is checking the progress each day.

This can be expanded into lessons.

Children can take light, wind, and temperature measurements and track the sun at different times of the day.

Additionally, learn about the history of greenhouses.

History of Greenhouses

Did you know that greenhouses are also called glass houses?

Some of the earliest accounts of using structures to grow plants date back to ancient Rome, around 30 A.D.

Cucumber and squash were grown for the Emperor Tiberius.

In addition, Andrew Faneuil an affluent merchant from Boston, built the first known greenhouse in America in 1737.

Look at this site Dave’s Garden for a short history lesson about greenhouses.

Gardening Books for Kids

Too, look at some of the fun living books about gardening to add to your fun craft today.

I prefer living books when I can find them, then I add reference books too.

11 Gardening With Kids Books & Fun Resources

As a true bibliophile no unit study would be complete without a strong list of books to support a topic. Here is a great list for everyone in the family.

Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

Learn the difference between a farrow and a barrow, and what distinguishes a weanling from a yearling. Country and city mice alike will delight in Julia Rothman’s charming illustrated guide to the curious parts and pieces of rural living. Dissecting everything from the shapes of squash varieties to how a barn is constructed and what makes up a beehive to crop rotation patterns, Rothman gives a richly entertaining tour of the quirky details of country life.

The Garden Classroom: Hands-On Activities in Math, Science, Literacy, and Art

Packed with garden-based activities that promote science, math, reading, writing, imaginative play, and arts and crafts, The Garden Classroom offers a whole year of outdoor play and learning ideas—however big or small your garden.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt:

Explore the secret realm beneath the dirt that brings the world of nature to life: Follow a young girl and her grandmother on a journey through the year planning, planting, and harvesting their garden—and learn about what's happening in the dirt to help make it all happen.Up in the garden, the world is full of green—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt exists a busy world—earthworms dig, snakes hunt, skunks burrow—populated by all the creatures that make a garden their home

Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden

A refreshing source of ideas to help your children learn to grow their own patch of earth, Gardening Lab for Kids encourages children to get outside and enjoy nature. This fun and creative book features 52 plant-related activities set into weekly lessons, beginning with learning to read maps to find your heat zone, moving through seeds, soil, composting, and then creating garden art and appreciating your natural surroundings.

The Ultimate Guide to Gardening: Grow Your Own Indoor, Vegetable, Fairy, and Other Great Gardens

Whether inside or outside, decorative or edible, this book is full of gardening projects large and small. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions are accompanied by photographs that guide the aspiring gardening through planting all kinds of gardens.

Kids Gardening Set

MONTESSORI FOR TODDLERS: Our gardening tool set encourages kids to play outside & learn about plants, nature & sustainability. Perfect for the yard and sand box.

OUTDOOR LEARNING ACTIVITIES: Our Kids Garden Set is great for Occupational Therapy & Developing Fine Motor Skills. Suitable for Boys and girls.

Do-It-Yourself Garden Research Handbook - The Thinking Tree: How to Design, Plant, & Care for Your Own Garden! Homeschooling Science, Nature & Home Economics

A Gardening Research Workbook & Planning Guide for Teens, Kids and Families! Perfect for Homeschooling Science, Nature Study, Botany and Home Economics!

Designed for teens, but perfect for Ages 9+ (Younger students will need some extra help).

Raised Garden Bed Wood Planter Boxes Outdoor for Kids with Legs

{Raised Garden Bed for Kids} We designed the children raised garden bed carefully, so that your children can feel the happiness of plant growth and the magic of natural life. Our raised garden bed deep enough to provide your plants and vegetables with ample room to breathe and grow healthy.

From Seed to Plant

Flowers, trees, fruits—plants are all around us, but where do they come from? With simple language and bright illustrations, non-fiction master Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to the processes of pollination, seed formation, and germination. Important vocabulary is reinforced with accessible explanation and colorful, clear diagrams showing the parts of plants, the wide variety of seeds, and how they grow. The book includes instructions for a seed-growing project, and a page of interesting facts about plants, seeds, and flowers. A nonfiction classic, and a perfect companion for early science lessons and curious young gardeners.

National Geographic Readers: Seed to Plant

Kids see plants, flowers, and trees around them every day. In this lively and educational reader, they'll learn how those plants grow. Kids will take this magical journey from seed pollination to plant growth, learning about what plants need to thrive and grow with the same careful text, brilliant photographs, and the fun approach National Geographic Readers are known for.

Oh Say Can You Seed? All About Flowering Plants

An easy and fun introduction to plant biology! With the able assistance of Thing 1 and Thing 2 - the Cat in the Hat explores the world of plants. Kids will learn about the various parts of plants, seeds, and flowers; basic photosynthesis and pollination; and seed dispersal.

Additionally, look at these other 5 plastic bottle craft ideas.

5 Plastic Bottle Craft Ideas

Use a plastic bottle to make this cool submarine on my post Renaissance Inventors: How To Make A Fascinating Da Vinci Submarine Craft.
How To Make A Plastic Bottle Faux Succulents Terrarium
Take a 2 or 3 liter plastic bottle and make this Ship Craft Ideas & Ship Terminology | Fun Ship in A Bottle Craft for Kids.
DIY Bottle Organizers
Fairy House Night Lights

More Gardening Ideas | 5 Plastic Bottle Craft Ideas

Similarly, look at more gardening ideas.

Finally, look at these 2-liter bottle mini greenhouses to add to the other 5 plastic bottle craft ideas.

How to Make 2-Liter Bottle Mini Greenhouses

First, here is what you need:

empty and clean 2-liter bottles
x-acto knife
plastic wrap
rubber band
soil
seeds (I used sunflower for this project)
spray bottle filled with water
optional: plastic tray

First, using the x-acto knife, cut the middle part of the 2-liter bottle out and discard.

On the bottom of the bottle, cut a few drain holes using the knife.

You’ll want the top portion of the bottle to fit just enough into the bottom portion to create the greenhouse.

Fill the bottom portion of the bottle with soil.

Poke 1-3 holes into the soil for the seeds.

Place a seed into each hole.

Use the spray bottle to moisten the soil enough with water.

Cover the top portion of the bottle with a piece of plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band.

Place the lid on top of the bottom portion of the greenhouse.

Set the mini greenhouses near a windowsill that gets good sunshine.

Use a tray underneath if desired. Observe over a few days.

After a few days, you should see the seeds sprouting.

If you do not see any seeds sprouting, you can try planting another until you get a sprout.

Seeds not sprouting could be from just bad seeds, diseased seeds, etc.

Once plants reach a certain height, you can transfer to a bigger container or garden outside and watch them grow!

8 Peter Rabbit Garden Ideas | How To Make A Preschool Garden Box

March 18, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Grab one or more of these 8 Peter Rabbit garden ideas to add some fun hands-on learning to your unit but don’t forget to hop on down to my DIY for how to make a preschool garden box. Also, look at The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study.

I don’t need to tell you how wonderful it is to get your children outside in the fresh air.

Digging in the dirt, and getting healthy microbes to help build immunity, absorbing sunshine, and enjoying nature is fun this time of year.

8 Peter Rabbit Garden Ideas | How To Make A Preschool Garden Box

Nature walks, pond studies, and of course, starting a garden are wonderful spring activities.

But sometimes you just have to get stuff done inside or the weather is not participating in your plans.

Peter Rabbit to the rescue indoors!

You have a wonderful variety of choices from the list below from sensory bins to science and art projects.

And then I have a wonderful activity that will keep everyone from toddlers to preschoolers busy for a while with their dramatic play in a felt preschool garden box.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Book

First, add some of these living books to your library.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Other Books by Beatrix Potter

Your kids will love the whole series of books by Beatrix Potter to add to a unit study or fun learning for the day.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter Rabbit is the original classic by Beatrix Potter. The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published by Frederick Warne in 1902 and endures as Beatrix Potter's most popular and well-loved tale. It tells the story of a very mischievous rabbit and the trouble he encounters in Mr McGregor's vegetable garden! Re-originated in 2002 to mark the centenary of publication bringing it closer to the original edition, six illustrations were restored, four that were removed in 1903 to make room for endpapers and two that have never been used before, Beatrix having initially prepared more illustrations than could be accommodated in the original format. Beatrix Potter is regarded as one of the world's best-loved children's authors of all time. From her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, published by Frederick Warne in 1902, she went on to create a series of stories based around animal characters including Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-duck, Mr. Jeremy Fisher and Tom Kitten. Her humorous, lively tales and beautiful illustrations have become a natural part of childhood. With revenue from the sales of her books, Beatrix Potter bought a farm - Hill Top - in the English Lake District, where she later became a farmer and prize-winning sheep breeder.

The Tailor of Gloucester (Beatrix Potter Read & Play)

"In the time of swords and periwigs and full-skirted coats with flowered lappets—when gentlemen wore ruffles, and gold-laced waistcoats of paduasoy and taffeta—there lived a tailor in Gloucester..."Potter described 'The Tailor of Gloucester' as her own favorite among her books. It was based on the true story of a tailor who left the unsewn pieces of a coat in his shop and found that the garment had been mysteriously finished for him in the night. It turned out that the real tailor's assistants were his apprentices, but in Beatrix Potter's version of the story the secret helpers are skillful little brown mice.(1866–1943) loved the countryside and spent much of her childhood drawing and studying animals. The landscape that Peter Rabbit first introduced to us in 1902 is still today one of most popular and well-loved worlds. What started as an endearing story about a bunny rabbit would soon become the first ember for the illustrious series that is , & a story which has endured retelling after retelling at bedtimes all over the world.

The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (Peter Rabbit)

The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-winkle is an original classic by Beatrix Potter. The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-winkle was first published in 1905, and is as charming today as it was then. It tells the tale of a hidden home high in the hills. It is discovered one day by a little girl called Lucie, who is in search of her missing pocket handkerchiefs. She knocks on the tiny door, and meets Mrs Tiggy-winkle who does all the washing and ironing for the neighbouring animals. Lucie spends a lovely day helping her, and it's only right at the end of the day that she realises Mrs Tiggy-winkle is a hedgehog! Beatrix Potter is regarded as one of the world's best-loved children's authors of all time. From her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, published by Frederick Warne in 1902, she went on to create a series of stories based around animal characters including Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-duck, Mr. Jeremy Fisher and Tom Kitten. Her humorous, lively tales and beautiful illustrations have become a natural part of childhood. With revenue from the sales of her books, Beatrix Potter bought a farm - Hill Top - in the English Lake District, where she later became a farmer and prize-winning sheep breeder.

The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (Peter Rabbit)

The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher endures as one of Beatrix Potter's most popular and well-loved tales. It tells of an optimistic and slightly accident-prone frog, who sets off on a fishing expedition across the pond, only to find himself bitten on the toe by a water-beetle, fighting with a stickleback, and eventually nearly eaten by a trout! The Tale of Jeremy Fisher is number seven in Beatrix Potter's series of 23 little books, the titles of which are as follows: 1 The Tale of Peter Rabbit 2 The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin 3 The Tailor of Gloucester 4 The Tale of Benjamin Bunny 5 The Tale of Two Bad Mice 6 The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle 7 The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher 8 The Tale of Tom Kitten 9 The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck 10 The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies 11 The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse 12 The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes 13 The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse 14 The Tale of Mr. Tod 15 The Tale of Pigling Bland 16 The Tale of Samuel Whiskers 17 The Tale of The Pie and the Patty-Pan 18 The Tale of Ginger and Pickles 19 The Tale of Little Pig Robinson 20 The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit 21 The Story of Miss Moppet 22 Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes 23 Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (Peter Rabbit)

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck is an original classic by Beatrix Potter. Poor Jemima. All she wants to do is lay her eggs in peace, and be allowed to hatch them herself. At last she flies off and finds the perfect place. Little does the silly duck realise that the charming gentleman who has lent her his woodshed is busily planning a delicious meal of . . . roast duck! Jemima was a real duck belonging to Beatrix Potter, who lived at her farm, Hill Top. The story also features Beatrix's own sheepdog, Kep, who thankfully manages to save Jemima from a nasty fate! Beatrix Potter is regarded as one of the world's best-loved children's authors of all time. From her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, published by Frederick Warne in 1902, she went on to create a series of stories based around animal characters including Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-duck, Mr. Jeremy Fisher and Tom Kitten

Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit Knit Plush

SOFT & HUGGABLE: This Easter stuffed animal is made from soft, huggable materials and features surface-washable construction for easy cleaning. Each Peter Rabbit stuffed animal is appropriate for ages 1 and up and ships in a protective poly bag.

You just need two items from Dollar Tree and some felt to recreate this adorable little traveling garden to keep small hands occupied and little imaginations growing big.

You can use the garden box and the little felt veggies in lots of ways like finding out about different veggies.

Use Farm Anatomy as a great reference along with it.

Next, look at these Peter Rabbit garden ideas.

8 Peter Rabbit Garden Ideas

Here is another activity I created for the theme with felt to practice some basic math skills, Fun Mr. McGregor’s Vegetable Garden Simple Frugal Math Activity.
Let your little one’s imagination take over with Peter Rabbit Small World Sensory Play, a sweet little mini garden at their fingertips.
Take some of your harvest (even if it’s from the grocery store) and learn How to Make DIY Fruit & Veggie Stamped Tea Towels for a precious garden-themed art project.
Cooking with littles is always a great idea, it teaches them so much, stay on theme with this Rabbit Food Lettuce Wrap- Cooking with Kids.
I created these 7 Science Garden Ideas and Make a Pizza Container Garden with older kids in mind but most activities are very easily adapted to preschoolers as well. Preschoolers love pizza too!
Learn about growing Your own Vegetable Soup Unit Study as you talk about gardens and what grows in them.
Need a little bit more for your garden theme? Check out my Easy Seeds and Gardening Unit Study for Kids with plenty of ideas to create a unique and fun unit.
Playdough and a precious, precocious preschooler go perfectly together for this Peter Rabbit Invitation to Play.

Before you begin your garden box find a container.

They have several small boxes and bins at Dollar Tree, but I wanted something a little larger.

After searching up and down the aisle for a while I found this cat litter box in the pet aisle that worked perfectly and was the most generous in size, but you can use whatever you like.

How To Make A Preschool Garden Box

Supplies Needed:

Shallow plastic box
Pool noodle(s)
Brown Felt
Colored felt
Hot glue
Scissors
Stuffing or scraps of felt.

First, use a kitchen knife to cut down the pool noodle to the width of the litter box.

Because the litter box has angled sides you will also need to cut the ends at a slight angle, you want it to fit tightly down into the box.

Repeat until you fill up the box, leaving a little space between each noodle.

Cut brown felt for each piece the exact length and either just big enough to wrap around or not quite touch.

Cover in hot glue making sure to get the edges.

Wrap around the noodle and smooth it down.

Put hot glue on each end of the cut noodle and press quickly into place, hold until the glue cools and hardens.

Repeat until each one is in place and the box is filled.

Now, the fun part, creating the little stuffed felt veggies to put in your garden.

Cut simple shapes out of the felt, you want to choose things that grow out of or under the ground so that you are also teaching your child correctly at the same time.

How To Make A Preschool Garden Box

Some ideas are carrots, parsnips, lettuce, radishes, and potatoes.

Cut two pieces out at the same time for each vegetable.

Remember to also cut out greenery at the same time for your tops of items like the carrots.

Run a bead of glue all the way around one piece of your felt veggies leaving just enough open to add stuffing.

Quickly press the matching opposite side into the hot glue and allow to cool.

Once glue is set and cooled, stuff the inside, using a pencil to get it all the way in.

Add the greenery to the top between the two layers and glue the rest of the way closed.

For lettuce/cabbage cut wavy strips and/or small leafy pieces

Roll the strips, bunching and gluing randomly as you go until your head of lettuce is as big as you’d like it.

Push your vegetables into the spaces between each “row”.

Add a basket for gathering and enjoy their imagination taking over.

How to Easily Make Fun Seed Tape With Kids

March 6, 2024 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

While creating super easy seed tape with kids’ hands are busy and their minds are open to absorbing new information! Also, look at this post Easy Seeds and Gardening Unit Study for Kids (Middle – Upper Elementary) for more ideas.

Seed tape makes a great activity during the spring months.

Not only is it teaching a practical life skill, but you are incorporating math and science into their learning as well. It is the perfect rainy-day activity while you wait for planting season.

Seed taping makes for a sweet homemade gift too. Grandma might really enjoy a little help with her garden.

How to Easily Make Fun Seed Tape With Kids

Look at this list to make fun seed tape with kids:

Assorted seeds
Toilet paper
All-purpose flour
Wooden craft stick
Water
A small bowl
Permanent marker
Ruler/measuring tape
Clear zippered bags
Tweezers

How to Easily Make Fun Seed Tape With Kids @Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Seed tape can be used in small or large gardens, containers, or even cut into small pieces for seed starting pots.

12 Easy Seed Tape Steps With Kid

Pull out a length of toilet paper that is easy to work with, I recommend from 2’ to 4’ depending on your garden space. If your toilet paper is more than 1-ply you will want to separate each layer.

Use a sharpie to write the name of your plant carefully at the end of the roll so you don’t get confused.

In a small bowl stir together just enough flour and water to create a sticky paste, it should be like a thick pudding. A couple of teaspoons of flour will go a long way.

Mark off spots for your seeds by making a dot with your sharpie on your lengths of toilet paper, this will depend on the recommended planting distance of the flowers or vegetables you are planting, you can find this information on the back of your seed packet.

This is a great time to include some math in your child’s activity, have them use a ruler to mark off the spaces.

Drip a bit of your paste on your mark using a craft stick.

Use your tweezers to drop a seed or two onto the paste dot, tape down gently.

Leave your paper out and allow the paste to dry completely, this is an important step, if you move to the next step before it’s dry it will stick together and become a big unusable mess.

Once your paste is completely dry roll up your seed tape into a tidy little roll and place inside a plastic baggie, don’t forget to use your sharpie to write the name of your plant on the baggie.

Gardening Activities for Kids

Store your seed tapes until ready to use!

When ready to plant you can use the entire length or trim them into smaller pieces, even a few squares for container gardening will work!

Dig a shallow trench in the prepared soil and unroll your seed tape, cover with a thin layer of soil, water well.

Remember to identify your rows with plant markers.

Turn this simple activity into a larger unit study by including some other activities that go along with it well and add a little more to it.

11 Seed Tape Unit Study Ideas

One/ Track your planting from seed tape to harvest with a gardening journal.

Two/ Incorporate art by sketching your plants.

Three/ Work in some math by having your child draw out a square foot garden and filling in the plants you plan to grow.

Four/ Practice measurement by having them track the plant’s growth with a ruler.

Five/ Purchase a rain gauge and track the rain for the season on a simple bar graph.

Six/ Use leftover seeds for a seed sorting activity. Look at my tips here for Easy Seed and Gardening Unit Study for Kids (Middle – Upper Elementary)

Seven/ Create a garden budget and have your child compare prices and help choose plants and other items needed to fit in the budget.

Eight/ Make plant markers for art and writing practice.

Nine/ Check out books from the library about seeds and planting, I have a list of suggestions below!

Ten/ Draw and label the parts of a seed.

Eleven/ Photograph your plant from seed to harvest and create a book.

Next, look at some of our favorite books.

11 Gardening With Kids Books & Fun Resources

As a true bibliophile no unit study would be complete without a strong list of books to support a topic. Here is a great list for everyone in the family.

Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life