How to Make an Ant Farm With a Bottle

Ants for the farm are easy to find.

Ant farms are fun science projects and hobbies for kids to work on and enjoy. They allow students to see how the ant colony works by providing a window into their normally underground--and unseen--world. You can purchase ant farm cases for your child to use, or you can add in a little education about recycling and reuse a plastic bottle.

Things You'll Need

• 2-liter bottle
• 1-liter bottle
• Rubber band
• Cheese cloth or something similar
• Dirt
• Small piece of cardboard
• Tape

Instructions

1. Cut the top curved part off of a 2-liter bottle and a 1-liter bottle.

2. Place the 1- liter bottle inside the 2-liter bottle. Use double-sided tape or a strong glue to hold it in place.

3. Fill the area between the two bottles with soil and sand. The soil won't come up to the top of the 2-liter bottle because the 1-liter bottle is smaller.

4. Place piece of cardboard or other sturdy material on top of the small bottle and tape it down. This is an area where you can put food for the ants.

5. Cover the bottle with a tightly woven cloth such as cheese cloth. Make sure it is somewhat breathable so the ants will get air. Don't use plastic wrap. Secure the cloth with rubber bands.

References

• Invention Factory: Ant Farm