Closed Terrarium: Sustainability in a Bottle

Consumables:

• Small plants suitable for closed terrariums (e.g., ferns, moss, other moisture-loving plants)
• Terrarium soil or substrate
• Dead sphagnum moss
• Activated charcoal
• Springtails, if available
• Small stones, twigs, or other natural hardscape materials
• Optional decorative elements

Non-Consumables:

• Clear glass jar or container with a lid
• Drainage medium such as LECA, gravel, or small pebbles
• Spoons or scoops
• Spray bottle with water
• Observation sheet or science notebook
• Optional: magnifying glasses

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Important note about moss and natural materials:

If using moss or other natural materials, avoid removing them from parks, forests, trees, lawns, or other living spaces where they play an important ecological role. Moss helps retain moisture, protects soil, and supports small organisms. In some places, collecting moss may also be restricted. Whenever possible, use store-bought moss or reclaimed materials. If students do collect small amounts, they should only take very little from places where removal will not cause damage, such as loose moss from a sidewalk edge, wall, or other non-sensitive surface.

In this lesson, students will build a closed terrarium and use it as a model to explore ecosystems, plant needs, decomposition, water cycling, and sustainability. A terrarium is a self-contained ecosystem that can survive for long periods when built and maintained properly, making it a strong example of sustainability in a small, observable system. Terrariums can also be used for scientific observation and plant propagation, while helping students think about the relationships between living and non-living components in an ecosystem.