Activity: Build a Mini Greenhouse and Grow Something from Seed

Perfect for: Indoors near a window or outdoors in a garden or balcony

Best for: Ages 6+ (teaches biology, patience, sustainability, and responsibility)

Activity Description:

Help children create their own mini greenhouse from recycled materials to grow herbs, flowers, or vegetables from seed. They’ll learn how plants grow, what they need to thrive, and how to care for something over time. It’s hands-on science, responsibility training, and eco-awareness rolled into one feel-good project.

How to Do It:

1. Choose What to Grow

Pick something that grows quickly and is easy to care for, like:

• Basil or mint
• Sunflowers
• Lettuce or cress
• Tomatoes or peas

This gives a sense of progress and reward.

2. Make a DIY Mini Greenhouse

Use recycled materials like:

• A clear plastic bottle cut in half
• An egg carton covered with plastic wrap
• A clear plastic food container with a lid

Add soil or cotton wool, moisten it, and gently press in seeds.

3. Track Growth in a Plant Journal

Each day or week, they can:

• Draw or take photos of progress
• Measure plant height
• Note changes in color, shape, and leaves
• Reflect on what the plant might need

This encourages observation, journaling, and care.

4. Learn by Doing

Let them test different variables:

• One plant in sun, one in shade
• More or less water
• With or without a cover

They’ll discover scientific thinking by comparing outcomes.

5. Celebrate the First Harvest or Bloom

Use the herbs in cooking, transplant a sprout to the garden, or give a flower to someone special.

It’s more than just gardening—it’s watching life respond to effort, attention, and care.

Ready for the next hands-on, mind-growing activity? Just type n!