This is a great project for kids who are interested in nature and bugs. This is an easy project for kids of any age and you get to watch ants build an underground city…so it is pretty cool. This ant farm has no openings, so you don’t have to worry about the ants escaping. You can open the jar outside to feed the ants, and then close it back up and bring it inside to observe.
How to Make an Ant Farm Jar and Watch an Ant Colony Build Mazes Craft Activity for Kids
How to Make an Ant Farm Jar and Watch an Ant Colony Build Mazes Craft Activity for Kids
Crafts Materials Needed
– 2 Jars – One Big, One Smaller
– Loose, Sand-Like Soil
– Water
– Sugar
Step 1
Clean both jars out, and dry them out. Take the outside wrappers off so you will be able to see inside the ant jar.
Step 2
Put the smaller jar, without its lid, upside down, within the bigger jar. Try to center it.
Put the smaller jar, without its lid, upside down, within the bigger jar. Try to center it. Poke a few tiny holes in the jar lid, small enough for ants to not escape.
Step 3
Fill the outside area between both jars, with the sandy-soil.
Fill the outside area between both jars, with the sandy-soil. Make sure that the entire area is filled, but don’t pack it tightly or the ants will not be able to dig their way through it.
Step 4 : Finding and Trapping the Ants
Now you must find the ants for your ant farm jar. Go looking in your back yard or in the local park. If you still can not find any ants then you can build an ant trap. Ants love sugar, so what you should do is put some sugar, mixed with a tiny bit of water, into a jar or can. Put it on its side and keep an eye on it…when you have about 20 ants. Don’t get more than 20 ants…crowding too many ants in the jar will make them less active and less fun to watch. You can close the jar and put them in your ant farm jar (DO THIS OUTSIDE – NOT INSIDE YOUR HOUSE). Important : Make sure that these ants are from the same colony or they will land up fighting and killing each other.
Step 5 : Close That Jar Tight
Make sure to close that jar tight. Don’t worry about the ants getting enough air because you will be opening it to put food in there. Believe it or not, that is plenty of air for your ants.
How to Make an Ant Farm Jar and Watch an Ant Colony Build Mazes
Feeding Your Ants
Do the feeding of your ants outside to keep them from escaping into your house (or I will get a lot of nasty emails from your Moms). :)
Once a week (no more than this) feed the ants a few drops of sugar water. You can put it directly into the soil. You can also drop in there a few grains of bird or grass seed.
FEEDING ANTS TOO MUCH CAN KILL THEM!
Keep Your Ants Safe
– Keep your ant jar away from direct blow of air conditioners, radiators, and heaters…keep them at normal room temperature.
– Keep them out of the direct glare of sunlight.
The Fun Part is Watching Your Ants Build an Underground City
Now just watch and observe your ants build their own littler underground city. They can build them most amazing, intricate mazes. I hope you enjoyed this project.
How to Make an Ant Farm Jar and Watch an Ant Colony Build Mazes Craft Activity for Kids
How to Make an Ant Farm Jar and Watch an Ant Colony Build Mazes Craft Activity for Kids
Crafts Materials Needed
– 2 Jars – One Big, One Smaller
– Loose, Sand-Like Soil
– Water
– Sugar
Step 1
Clean both jars out, and dry them out. Take the outside wrappers off so you will be able to see inside the ant jar.
Step 2
Put the smaller jar, without its lid, upside down, within the bigger jar. Try to center it.
Put the smaller jar, without its lid, upside down, within the bigger jar. Try to center it. Poke a few tiny holes in the jar lid, small enough for ants to not escape.
Step 3
Fill the outside area between both jars, with the sandy-soil.
Fill the outside area between both jars, with the sandy-soil. Make sure that the entire area is filled, but don’t pack it tightly or the ants will not be able to dig their way through it.
Step 4 : Finding and Trapping the Ants
Now you must find the ants for your ant farm jar. Go looking in your back yard or in the local park. If you still can not find any ants then you can build an ant trap. Ants love sugar, so what you should do is put some sugar, mixed with a tiny bit of water, into a jar or can. Put it on its side and keep an eye on it…when you have about 20 ants. Don’t get more than 20 ants…crowding too many ants in the jar will make them less active and less fun to watch. You can close the jar and put them in your ant farm jar (DO THIS OUTSIDE – NOT INSIDE YOUR HOUSE). Important : Make sure that these ants are from the same colony or they will land up fighting and killing each other.
Step 5 : Close That Jar Tight
Make sure to close that jar tight. Don’t worry about the ants getting enough air because you will be opening it to put food in there. Believe it or not, that is plenty of air for your ants.
How to Make an Ant Farm Jar and Watch an Ant Colony Build Mazes
Feeding Your Ants
Do the feeding of your ants outside to keep them from escaping into your house (or I will get a lot of nasty emails from your Moms). :)
Once a week (no more than this) feed the ants a few drops of sugar water. You can put it directly into the soil. You can also drop in there a few grains of bird or grass seed.
FEEDING ANTS TOO MUCH CAN KILL THEM!
Keep Your Ants Safe
– Keep your ant jar away from direct blow of air conditioners, radiators, and heaters…keep them at normal room temperature.
– Keep them out of the direct glare of sunlight.
The Fun Part is Watching Your Ants Build an Underground City
Now just watch and observe your ants build their own littler underground city. They can build them most amazing, intricate mazes. I hope you enjoyed this project.
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