Let's make a dirt baby!
Thanks for purchasing a dirt baby kit at our farm. Now the farm fun can continue at home!
Dirt babies are a fun craft for kids (and ALL ages!) that allow them to see how plants grow.
You’ll make your dirt baby, put it in a jar of water by the window, and watch it’s grass hair grow! Then you get to give it haircuts and enjoy it for many months to come.
Supplies
- A dirt baby kit from our farm
- Hot glue Gun (or other waterproof glue – Aleenes tacky glue, e6000, super glue, beacon 3 in 1 craft glue, etc.)
- Narrow mouth jar/can to set dirt baby on top to keep watered
- Scissors
Video instructions
Click play to see step by step instructions of how to make a dirt baby. Scroll down for written instructions.
HOW TO MAKE A DIRT BABY
Step 2: Hold open the nylon and pour the soil in the bottom of the nylon on top of the seed Note: When you are making the dirt baby – think upside down. The toe of the nylon will become the top of the head.
Step 3: Pack down the soil so it forms a ball at the bottom of the nylon
Step 4: Tie a knot close to the base of the ball of soil
Step 5: Lay dirt baby on the table right side up (the seed is on top, soil in the middle, and the tail is like the neck of the dirt baby) to decorate!
Step 6: Use hot glue to add googly eyes, a mouth, nose, eyebrows – or anything else you can think (you can probably use a different type of durable glue as long as it can withstand getting wet since the soil/stocking will stay wet)
Step 7: When glue is COMPLETELY SET AND DRY – run the entire dirt baby under the tap to give it a good first watering
Step 7: Place dirt baby in a glass jar, cup, or container of water so the head can sit above the cup and the tail can stay in the cup to wick up water to keep soil wet
Step 8: Place cup in a warm location (inside) near a window for light and watch daily for their grass hair to grow!
Science Connection
Here are some resources and information about dirt babies, grass seed, and how plants grow – a few awesome science connections to make with dirt babies!
FACTS:
Oregon is the world’s number one producer of cool-season forage and turf grass seed. Much of the state’s grass seed is grown in the Willamette Valley where the mild and moist winters and dry summers provide ideal growing conditions.
Turf grass seed is planted for home lawns, athletic fields, and golf courses. Forage grass seed is planted for pastures, road sides and erosion prevention. Grass seed is one of the state’s top commodities. The industry employs approximately 10,000 people annually and generates about $1 billion of annual economic activity in the state.
Here are some great videos:
HOW DOES A SEED BECOME A PLANT VIDEO
TIMELAPSE OF GRASS SEED GROWING VIDEO