Hairy Caterpillar Project

This is a fun project that was actually sent home from school. We have been watching and watering our little caterpillar regularly and the results were just what any little kid would want. A very hairy caterpillar. I posted when we got it but I am combining everything again in this post.

What you'll need is:
4 cups potting soil
4 tablespoons quick-sprouting grass seed (we used ryegrass seed)
Small yogurt container or paper cup
Knee-high nylon stocking
Colorful ponytail holders
Scissors
Plastic bag
Bobby pin
Googly eyes
Pipe cleaner
Small pom-poms

Instructions
1. Combine the potting soil and grass seed in a large bowl.
2. Cut the bottom from a small yogurt container or paper cup for a funnel, then slide a knee- high nylon stocking over it.
3. Pour or spoon 3⁄4 to 1 cup of the soil mixture into the stocking, then slide a colorful ponytail holder over the end of the stocking to section off the pocket of soil. Repeat this process to make 5 soil-filled segments. Tie a knot in the top of the stocking and trim away any excess nylon.
4. Submerge the caterpillar in water for 10 minutes, then place it in a plastic bag and let it sit overnight.
5. Remove the bag and loop a semi-straightened bobby pin through the front of the stocking, then glue a googly eye onto each end of the pin. For antennae, cut a pipe cleaner in half, glue a small pom-pom onto one end of each half, and stick them in place.
6. Set your caterpillar on a plate by a sunny window and generously water the whole thing every other day. Your critter should sprout hair in about 4 to 5 days.

First day in the sun

After a week

After 2 weeks

Piper thinks that it needs a trim. Here is the actual link from Pinterest. We didn't quite get these results but maybe we just needed more grass. I plan on doing this during the summer when we have our 1st Annual Mom Camp with a group of my girlfriends. I hope the other littles enjoy seeing their caterpillar sprout as much as our family did.

Source: familyfun.go.com via Jessie on Pinterest