Ecosystem in a Bottle
Build an ecosystem in a bottle. Include soil, plants, fungi, and small animals
(insects, worms, etc) found in your local environment. Maintain the ecosystem for at
least seven days after completing construction of the ecosystem. Observe it daily,
and keep a record of your observations. Discuss your observations.
1) You will need one large CLEAR 2-quart or 3-quart soda pop bottle with the label
removed. Take a strip of masking tape and run it along the top part of the bottle, right
where the neck just starts to taper. Carefully, using a pair of scissors, cut horizontally
around the bottle using the edge of the tape as your cutting line, then remove the
tape. Keep the top portion along with its cap for later use.
2) Place about 1/2" of gravel in the bottom of the bottle to aid drainage (optional).
Now loosely add 3" of potting soil (or good garden soil). Tap the bottle so the soil
will settle some, but not enough to pack it tight.
3) Get a pack of bean seeds and some grass seed. Many stores will donate a
couple of packs and a handful of grass seed.. You'll need 3-4 bean seeds and 2-3
pinches of grass seed per bottle. You can also add moss, snails, potato bugs,
worms, and other insects if you like. (Careful, some insects or caterpillars will eat
your plants.
4) Using a pencil, poke holes about 1" deep in the soil. Place a bean seed in each
hole. If you plant them near the bottles edge, you'll be able to see the roots sprout
and grow. Lightly recover the beans. Now lightly sprinkle the grass seeds over the
top of the soil. Scratch the surface lightly with a fork to place the grass seed just
slightly under the soil (not too much).
5) Sprinkle (not pour) water into the bottle until the soil is very damp but not soaked.
Let it sit for a while and watch the water permeate through the soil. Sprinkle more
water again until the soil is damp all the way down to the bottom. If the bottle is
turned slightly on its side you should not be able to see water flow up the side,
otherwise you have too much water.
6) Screw the cap on tight and place the top back on the bottle. You may invert the
bottle (as I did) or you can replace it as it was. Using clear 2" wide scotch tape, tape
the top back onto the bottle, making sure that it is well sealed. Identify each bottle
with a label (name & date started). The bottles should now be placed in a warm
sunny spot that at least receives indirect light for most of the day. Make sure it
doesn't get too hot and bake the young starting plants.
7) Keep a daily log of your ecosystem's progress. How you assembled the bottle,
what it looks like, when the seeds started to sprout, any changes in moisture, leaves
growing, etc. You will not need to water the bottle again.
Keep your daily log for about two weeks. Bring your bottle and log to scout camp.
Show your bottle and log and explain your observations.
Credit: http://www.relia.net/~thedane
(insects, worms, etc) found in your local environment. Maintain the ecosystem for at
least seven days after completing construction of the ecosystem. Observe it daily,
and keep a record of your observations. Discuss your observations.
1) You will need one large CLEAR 2-quart or 3-quart soda pop bottle with the label
removed. Take a strip of masking tape and run it along the top part of the bottle, right
where the neck just starts to taper. Carefully, using a pair of scissors, cut horizontally
around the bottle using the edge of the tape as your cutting line, then remove the
tape. Keep the top portion along with its cap for later use.
2) Place about 1/2" of gravel in the bottom of the bottle to aid drainage (optional).
Now loosely add 3" of potting soil (or good garden soil). Tap the bottle so the soil
will settle some, but not enough to pack it tight.
3) Get a pack of bean seeds and some grass seed. Many stores will donate a
couple of packs and a handful of grass seed.. You'll need 3-4 bean seeds and 2-3
pinches of grass seed per bottle. You can also add moss, snails, potato bugs,
worms, and other insects if you like. (Careful, some insects or caterpillars will eat
your plants.
4) Using a pencil, poke holes about 1" deep in the soil. Place a bean seed in each
hole. If you plant them near the bottles edge, you'll be able to see the roots sprout
and grow. Lightly recover the beans. Now lightly sprinkle the grass seeds over the
top of the soil. Scratch the surface lightly with a fork to place the grass seed just
slightly under the soil (not too much).
5) Sprinkle (not pour) water into the bottle until the soil is very damp but not soaked.
Let it sit for a while and watch the water permeate through the soil. Sprinkle more
water again until the soil is damp all the way down to the bottom. If the bottle is
turned slightly on its side you should not be able to see water flow up the side,
otherwise you have too much water.
6) Screw the cap on tight and place the top back on the bottle. You may invert the
bottle (as I did) or you can replace it as it was. Using clear 2" wide scotch tape, tape
the top back onto the bottle, making sure that it is well sealed. Identify each bottle
with a label (name & date started). The bottles should now be placed in a warm
sunny spot that at least receives indirect light for most of the day. Make sure it
doesn't get too hot and bake the young starting plants.
7) Keep a daily log of your ecosystem's progress. How you assembled the bottle,
what it looks like, when the seeds started to sprout, any changes in moisture, leaves
growing, etc. You will not need to water the bottle again.
Keep your daily log for about two weeks. Bring your bottle and log to scout camp.
Show your bottle and log and explain your observations.
Credit: http://www.relia.net/~thedane
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