Explore · Wild and Tumble activity
Magic mud jar
Shake it up, watch it settle. Make a jar of muddy water and see the layers magically appear.
*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.
A tiny plan for your day
Estimated time: 3 min to prepare · 5 min to explore · 2 min to tidy. Check back later for the big reveal. It's fine to stop early.
Before you start
What you’ll need
- A clear plastic bottle or jar with a tight lid
- Two big scoops of garden soil
- Water
Let's begin
Four simple steps
That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.
- Little one leads
Your child scoops soil into the jar until it's about a third full.
- Grown-up job
An adult adds water almost to the top and screws the lid on tightly.
Shake, shake, shake!
Pop it on a windowsill and watch. Check again after lunch and before bed. What's floating? What's at the bottom?
That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.
If you enjoyed this
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Build a filter from layers of stones, sand and grass.



