Grow a Leprechaun

This holiday activity will inspire kids' creativity and pique their interest in science.

Grow a Leprechaun

Age: Preschool through elementary

Time: An afternoon

Type of activity: Science/ Arts and Crafts

Celebrate the upcoming (and long-awaited) arrival of spring and St. Patrick's Day by growing your own leprechaun!

Materials needed:
· Styrofoam cup
· Crayons
· Potting soil
· Plant seeds for a green plant

What to do:

Step One: First have your child decorate the cup by drawing or painting a face on it. She doesn't need to color in hair, since that's what she'll be growing.

Step Two: Fill the cup halfway with soil.

Step Three: Following the package instructions, plant the seeds. If you don't have instructions, plant about three or four seeds an inch into the soil. When the seeds begin to sprout, you're leprechaun will have "hair."

Step Four: Place the cup in a sunny spot that's low enough for your child to see every day.

Step Five: Water the seeds daily, keeping a log of how much the Leprechaun's "hair" has grown.