SOCK CHIA PETS
Encourage kids to make these, watch them grow and take care of them-
If properly cared for, their "hair" will grow for an unlimited amount of time and the kids can give them "haircuts".
They all look different and take on a personality of their own. It's really funny!!
Here is one we made in class
this is the growth after 3 days!!
We used:
- socks (knee high/pantyhose work great too)
- grass seed (shade and sun-dense growth- I found the cheapest one works the best)
- potting soil
- rubberband (to hold bottom closed)
- fabric paint (to draw on nose & mouth)
- googly eyes
- a cup or coffee mug (to hold the sock open while spooning in the grass seed and soil- easier for the kids to hold and work with- put the sock on the cup/mug so there is a larger opening to work with)
- a small bowl to let them sit in (a black plastic one I used from the dollar store worked the because it absorbed the sun. The bowl works better than the plate because it holds water without spilling and dripping)
OPTIONS:
CYCLOPES:
Some kids made a Cyclopes- using only one eye- you also can use fabric paint to draw the eyes or in the past have used buttons held on by hot glue or straight pins through the button holes
BEARD INSTEAD OF HAIR:
some kids decided to have theirs grow a "beard" by reversing the order of the potting soil and grass seed (you will see in the directions on the link below-)
If you would like a "beard"- put the soil in first (where the toes would go- then the grass seeds in LAST
HAIR INSTEAD OF BEARD:
if you put the grass seed in FIRST (think of where your TOES would go in a sock-) that will become the "head" and your chia will grow hair.
If you would like a "beard"- put the soil in first (where the toes would go- then the grass seeds in LAST
I read about this project years ago in a book about all the things you can make with plants. I have made them many times in my class as part of the Science unit on plants. The kids love them and them come out amazing. Each of them take on their own personality as they grow and the kids look forward to taking care of them and watching them grow.
Below is a link with step by step instructions on how to make one:
