Each student will make their own Grass Head, but will need a partner to help with a few steps. Homeschool students can work on their own, but will need a partner to help with a few steps.

You will need access to water and a sunny windowsill for this activity.

Label Four of the Plastic Plates

Label two of the plates “Face Up.” Label the other two plates “Face Down.” The other plates will be used to distribute grass seeds to groups of students and do not need to be labeled.

Prepare the Nylons

This step takes about 15 minutes. Cut the stockings in half and tie the open ends as shown in this video.

Fill Cups with Water and Plates with Seeds

For each group of four students, fill a Solo cup with water. For each group of four students, fill a plastic plate or bowl with about ¼ cup of fast sprouting grass seeds.

Keep Your Grass Heads Watered & Hold On to Worksheets (After Class)

Store the Grass Heads in the ceramic mugs and the plates labeled “Face Up” and “Face Down” while you wait for the grass seeds to sprout.

The paper towel of the Grass Head will soak up water and keep the seeds wet — but only if part of the paper towel stays wet. Make sure to keep a water supply in each plate and cup so your Grass Heads stay wet. Grass Heads can soak up lots of water.

It will take 1-2 weeks for your Grass Heads to sprout, so plan accordingly. Your class will examine your Grass Heads during the next lesson. You’ll talk about whether students’ predictions were right, so collect student worksheets and keep them safe until the next lesson. Students may also find a surprise! For more on that, see the Activity Prep in the Grassheads Revisited activity in Lesson 4.