Very Hairy Caterpillar

Each student needs:

• large bowl
• 4 cups potting medium
• 4 T ryegrass
• empty yogurt container or paper cup with bottom cut out (for funnel)
• one knee high stocking for each student
• colorful ponytail holders
• bobby pins
• googly eyes
• pipe cleaners
• pom poms
• glue sticks

Instruction

1. Combine the potting soil and ryegrass in the large bowl.
2. Slide a knee-high stocking over the funnel.
3. Pour or spoon 3/4 to 1 cup of the soil mixture into the stocking.
4. Slide a colorful ponytail holder over the end of the stocking to section off the pocket of soil.
5. Repeat Step 3 to make five soil-filled segments.
6. Tie a knot in the top of the stocking, and trim away excess nylon.
7. Submerge the caterpillar in water for 10 minutes
8. Place the caterpillar in a plastic bag, and let it sit overnight.
9. Remove the bag, and loop a semistraightened bobby pin through the front of the stocking.
10. Glue a a googly eye onto each end of the pin.
11. For antennae, cut a pipe cleaner in half, glue a small pom-pom onto one end of each half, and stick them in place.
12. Set the caterpillars on styrofoam plates near a sunny window, and generously water them every other day. The critters should sprout hair in about 4-5 days.