Having Fun Making Terrariums!

What is your earliest memory of caring for others? How about your earliest memories of caring for the planet? For the animals, for the plants? What if you know that by making and caring for your terrarium, you have the chance to experiment with care, compassion, resilience, creativity, get curious about the interactions of living and non-living things and what makes a terrarium a beautiful mini-ecosystem.

An enrichment workshop

In the past winter, when most of the natural green was hidden under the snow, a group of nature-loving children was committed to making their terrariums. With covid-19, I thankfully delivered all their terrariums for the students to take home the day before the quarantine announcement. It is then with gratitude and joy that I share with you that the terrariums made it and brought purpose and joy to the children during this time of isolation.

"I enjoyed learning about ecosystems and the difference between living and non-living things. I also enjoyed decorating the terrarium" (C.)

The Journey from Vision to Care

Children learn in many different ways. One way I appreciate is by experimenting with the power of uniqueness, care, and consideration to learn to become the best they can be. The uniqueness of each student was reflected in their unique terrarium creation from their vision of a mini-ecosystem. They beautifully created amazing art in landscaping and soil layering from the same resources available to them. 

“E. liked to be with her friends, creating her terrarium design and deciding what to put in her terrarium, learning about plants, and getting to take her terrarium home…" (E. mom)

Moreover, they had access to basic scientific knowledge, the importance of the soil and each layer, the basic needs for the plants to thrive, the potential overgrowth of microorganisms, algae, and fungi, and the understanding of what constitutes an ecosystem and their equivalent biome on Earth. They also learned to be resourceful by putting together their tools and brainstorming new tools that can help clean or build terrariums.

It was an incredible experience for me to witness how the kids found their own "voice" as their way of creating and caring for their mini-world. Learning the importance of care and observing the balance of the living and non-living things, learning to monitor and only intervene if and when necessary. 

“M. said the most enjoyed part of the workshop is terrarium is like a real forest, but she could design by herself and decorate in the way she wants. It is a small world." (M. mom)

Does it sound similar to anything familiar to you? Perhaps just like our own development, for instance?

Ways of working

Above all the fantastic sharing and exchange, the children also expanded the class ground rules by adding their own "ways of working." That meant accountability! They eagerly committed to the number one most requested thing: "HAVE FUN, FUN, FUN and MORE FUN." - Thank you, kids!!!

The Motherhood Call

As a parent, one of the best things for me is to serve, encourage, share, and teach while having my children learn and grow with me. When opportunities like that happen, we know that all parts are ready to commit and compromise. I want to express my heartfelt thank you to the parent-teacher association of my children's school (PTA), the Enrichment Program team, and the Art teacher who shared her room for this amazing opportunity to share with the children my passion for terrarium making in this incredible workshop after school. Thank you, the parents, for entrusting your children to this fantastic experience!

"E. liked to be with her friends, creating her terrarium design and deciding what to put in her terrarium, learning about plants, and getting to take her terrarium home…"  (E. mom)

About generations and passion

I like to think that the passion for plants flows across generations and would like to express my respect and gratitude for the richness of my heritage that taught me so much. My mother (Japanese-descent Brazilian), who learned from my grandma's, taught me how to appreciate plants. My mother-in-law (Austrian-German-Descent Brazilian) taught me the art of terrarium making and plant decorations. So grateful for that! Now, it is such a joy to witness my daughters appreciate and help me with the workshop with compassion and kindness.

The hope

It is thrilling to hear how much they enjoyed it! I hope the terrarium-making workshop has somehow contributed to the appreciation of the world, to the appreciation of the delicate relationship of the living and non-living things in the world. The understanding that little can impact a lot the entire system, for the negative but thankfully for the positive too!

“R. enjoyed the class a lot. Thank you so much for providing such an excellent enrichment class. We appreciate it. Her terrarium is looking great! "(R. mom) 

“It is something I have never done before. Very hands-on, fun!" (A.)

“I enjoyed learning about ecosystems and the difference between living and non-living things. I also enjoyed decorating the terrarium" (C.)

It is rewarding to hear from the parents how much their children enjoyed the class and continue to enjoy the terrarium at home. They also shared their knowledge with their family making more terrariums!

Thank you all for an amazing time to learn and create with lots of FUN!

- The photos and comments are published with the parent's permission. The names have been omitted to protect the children -

Gratefully,