Sprouting House

Supplies

(Adult help needed)

• 4 colorful sponges
• scissors
• toothpicks
• small bowl
• shallow dish
• 3 tbsp. seeds (chia, alfalfa and/or wheat berry)
• water
• misting spray bottle

Step 1

Cut three sponges in half. Take one of the halves and cut it in half again. These smaller halves will be your front and back walls.

Step 2

Your fourth sponge will be the base of your home. Insert a toothpick into the sponge that will be your front wall, leaving an inch of toothpick exposed. 

Step 3

Push the exposed toothpick into the base sponge so it stands up. Use toothpicks to set up the rest of your walls, using two toothpicks each for the longer sidewalls.

Note: An adult can use a hot glue gun to glue together your pieces of sponge for a sturdier house.

Step 4

Once your walls are set up, push a toothpick into the top of each sidewall, leaving ¾ inch of toothpick exposed. Then stick on two pieces of sponge to be your roof, angling them inward.

Step 5

In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp. seeds with a little water to make a thick mixture. 

Step 6

With a butter knife, spread the mixture over your roof. Then spread some on the base sponge outside the house.

Step 7

Place the house in a shallow dish. Pour a little water into the dish around the base sponge. Imagine how it would feel to see water rising up around your home if you lived in one as shaky as this! Mist the roof with your spray bottle of water. Does the roof keep all the water out? Pray for kids in homes with leaky roofs.

Step 8

Each day add some water to the bottom of your dish. Once or twice a day, mist all the sponges with water. In a couple of days, your seeds will start to sprout. Water it daily to keep it growing!