Eggshell Planters

What you need:

• Knife

• Markers

• Potting soil

• Seeds

• Eggs and an egg carton

What you do:

1. Take your knife and gently tap the smaller end of the egg until it cracks.

2. Carefully break off the top part of the egg—don't worry about it being neat! That's what makes each planter unique.

3. Empty and rinse out the egg. Once dry, use markers to decorate the shell.

4. Fill the eggshell with potting soil and add a few seeds.

5. Add more soil over top of the seeds and lightly water it.

6. Place your new eggshell planter into the egg carton and put it in the sun to watch the plants grow!

Questions to ask:

1. Why should we put the eggshell planter in a window? What does the plant need to grow?

2. What types of plants can you grow? What would be fun and practical?

What's the science:

Did you know that eggshells are super helpful in gardens? That's because the calcium they provide adds nutrients to the soil, and crushed eggshells deter snails and slugs from eating young seeds and sprouts. Any compact space can be used to sprout a seed, but the unique shape of an eggshell makes it an ideal planter.