• Home
  • About
  • Homeschool
  • Activities
    • Sensory
    • Fine Motor
    • Alphabet
    • Art & Crafts
    • Science
    • LEGO
    • Math
    • Nature Study
  • Farm
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Stir The Wonder

Charlotte Mason Inspired Learning

  • Home
  • About
  • Homeschool
  • Activities
    • Sensory
    • Fine Motor
    • Alphabet
    • Art & Crafts
    • Science
    • LEGO
    • Math
    • Nature Study
  • Farm
  • Shop

Nature Study Science

Build a Mini Ecosystem for Nature Observation with Kids

Do your kids love to find little critters in nature and ask to keep them for a while? Do you struggle with finding something to keep these special pets in? This is why we built a mini ecosystem! It’s a wonderful learning experience for kids to observe bugs, small reptiles and amphibians for a short amount of time in a small container that includes elements from their natural habitat.

Build a Mini Ecosystem and allow your kids to safely observe bugs, reptiles and amphibians found in nature!

This post contains affiliate links.

Build a Mini Ecosystem for Nature Observation with Kids

We have used our mini ecosystem many times over the last few months. My son and I enjoy going on nature hunts throughout our property. We have found many amazing critters including spiders, insects, caterpillars, moths, toads and snakes! And we always learn as much as we can about each creature while we observe them in our mini ecosystem. To make your own mini ecosystem here’s what you’ll need!

Supplies:

  • Small Aquarium or Kritter Keeper
  • Mesh Netting or fiberglass screening
  • rubber band
  • Natural materials (dirt, sand, rocks, sticks, plants etc)
  • critters

Mini Ecosystem for Nature Observation with Kids

How to Make your own Mini Ecosystem!

We first learned about how to make an ecosystem from a wonderful book called Nature in a Nutshell for Kids. This book is full of over 100 nature activities for kids to do all year round!

To make your own mini ecosystem with your kids couldn’t be easier! With your kids’ help follow these simple instructions!

  1. Fill your small aquarium or Kritter Keeper with a layer of dirt.
  2. Add some grass or other plants, rocks and sticks. 
  3. Cut your screen to fit over the top and secure with a rubber band. 

Now you are ready to go on a nature hunt with your kids and find some cool critters to observe! 

making mini ecosystem

We have used our mini ecosystem to observe all kinds of creatures. Sometimes we only keep them for observation for a couple of hours, other times we have kept critters for a few days. During longer observations we include a food source along with water. 

mini ecosystem 3

We also clean our ecosystem between each critter observation. It’s a good idea to do this often because bugs and other animals may carry different germs. They also eliminate in the container which creates a smelly mess.We also enjoy creating new habitats for the critters we find!  

mini ecosystem 4

Do you enjoy going on nature hunts and observing nature with your kids? Then you’ll enjoy our new interactive nature series for kids we are working on with our friends at Still Playing School! We recently discovered our mutual love of all things nature and have decided to share our nature finds on Instagram! Please join Stir the Wonder and Still Playing School on Instagram by tagging your nature photos with #kidsnaturehunt so we can all enjoy the beautiful world around us.

Observing Nature with Kids on Instagram #kidsnaturehunt

Tips for Observing Nature with Kids by Still Playing School

More from Stir the Wonder

Including nature guides on a nature table is a great way to get young naturalists interested in reading! Inspecting Pond Water, Natural Science for Preschoolers Saturday Science: Nature Exploration & Book Suggestions | Stir the Wonder #kbn #childledlearning #nature

Follow Samantha @Stir the Wonder’s board Play & Explore Nature on Pinterest.

Save

Save

© 2015 – 2017, Stir The Wonder. All rights reserved.


6 Comments

« Smashing ABC Pumpkins
Newbery Medal and Honor Books for Young Children »

Comments

  1. Suzanne says

    July 9, 2021 at 9:05 am

    This looks so fun! What a great way to engage tactile learners and encourage exploring!

    Reply
  2. Vanessa says

    July 9, 2021 at 9:06 am

    Thanks for sharing! What a fun way to learn about different environments that animals live in!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Homeschool for Free and Frugal: Nature Study Resource List | Free Homeschool Deals © says:
    October 5, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    […] Build a Mini Ecosystem – Build a mini ecosystem with your children and observe nature inside! […]

    Reply
  2. Easy ideas for British Science Week - Science for Kids says:
    February 22, 2020 at 6:12 am

    […] mini ecosystem from Stir the Wonder is lovely […]

    Reply
  3. Nature Based Learning Activities | East TN Family Fun says:
    June 17, 2020 at 10:34 pm

    […] Mini Ecosystem, by Stir The Wonder – Your kids will record scientific observations as they observe their very own DIY ecosystems. […]

    Reply
  4. 🥇 Ideas fáciles para la Semana de la Ciencia Británica - Experimentos de Ciencia para Niños says:
    February 27, 2021 at 4:57 am

    […] mini ecosistema desde Revuelva la maravilla es adorable […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stuff We Recommend

Join the Steve Spangler Science Club “”
Subscribe:

Favorite Baby Buys for the Second Time Around

Amazon Associates

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in