playbook
Build your own ant farm and watch the colony at work
A living window into an ant colony digging tunnels. Fun and educational, for kids and adults alike.
2u
duration
€ 50
budget
Ground
pace
An ant farm is a tiny world you never get tired of watching. A colony digging tunnels, building corridors, and bustling about all day long, right behind glass on your table. It's a project that captivates both children and adults, and one you can make yourself with simple materials.
In this playbook you first gather your supplies, build the farm with sand and tubes, and introduce the colony. After that it's mostly a matter of patience and light upkeep: keeping the sand moist and feeding them something sweet every now and then. Before long you'll see the first tunnels appear.
by PlayTryBe team
Gather your materials: a glass jar or aquarium, garden sand, a spray bottle with water, plastic tubes, and ants. Buy a colony or catch ants yourself in the garden.
Fill the jar one third of the way with sand and push the tubes firmly through it to act as tunnels. Gently spray water so the sand becomes moist and the ants can dig easily.
Place the colony inside and give them some peace and quiet. The ants will explore their new home and start digging; it takes a little time before they settle in.
Upkeep is light: always keep the sand slightly moist and occasionally feed them something sweet like honey or sugar water, but not too often.
Suggestion: Too much food makes the farm messy and attracts mold.For anyone copying this