Thursday, May 3, 2012

Snail Garden 2012

It's that time of year when we see and talk a lot about bugs.
What is the attraction for children?
Is it because bugs can be so small?
Or wiggly?
Colourful?
I'm not sure but many children that come to the program are interested.
 
Each year we build a garden for snails to live.
This week we started.
I have been inspired by many 'fairy' gardens I've seen on pinterest
so decided to ask the children to design the garden
instead of just planting grass.
We started with our container filled with potting soil.
(Yes there are a few plastic bugs in it.)
We brainstormed ideas of what could be in the garden,
fences,
rocks,
pond,
toadstools,
 moss, etc.
Then today we put it together.
A bench for a chat with visitors, a moss bed, a pond surrounded with pretty glass stones 
and flat stones for easy sliding.
It also has toadstools and wooden boulders.
 But it needs grass.
We sprinkled wheat grass and lawn grass seeds all over.
 The bottle was empty by the time I returned.
Now we wait for the grass to grow.
Then invite a few snails to move in.


5 comments:

  1. This is really cute! I wonder though, without a top won't the snails leave? I'd like to try this on our balcony with my toddler!

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    1. When the snails are in the garden we cover it with window screening. It's easy to take off and on when the children are interested in looking at the snails.
      I make it a bigger than the box to overlap the sides then use string to tie it down.

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    2. Good idea- thanks! :)

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  2. Wonderful! I taught first grade and we had a FOSS science kit with snails and this unit you made is every bit as good! Carolyn

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    1. Thanks Carolyn - I've been focusing on project based learning - I'm still learning myself how that will work in a drop in program

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