Grow a beard
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Make a grass beard by attaching damp cotton and grass seeds to a paper face or jar; water daily and watch the green beard sprout.

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Step-by-step guide to make a grass beard

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How To Grow & Maintain A Beard Properly

What you need
Adult supervision required, construction paper or small jar, cotton balls, grass seeds, markers or crayons, scissors, small plate or tray, small spray bottle or cup for watering, white school glue

Step 1

Choose whether you will make the grass beard on a paper face or on a jar.

Step 2

If you chose a paper face draw a face on a piece of construction paper.

Step 3

If you chose a paper face cut out your paper face.

Step 4

If you chose a jar clean and dry the outside of the jar.

Step 5

Place your paper face or jar upright on the small plate or tray.

Step 6

Pull apart cotton balls into thin flat layers to make fluffy pads for the beard.

Step 7

Lightly dampen the cotton layers with water using the spray bottle or a little cup.

Step 8

Spread a thin line of white glue onto the beard area of your paper face or onto the jar.

Step 9

Press the damp cotton layers onto the glue so the cotton sticks where the beard should be.

Step 10

Sprinkle grass seeds evenly over the damp cotton and press them down gently.

Step 11

Mist the seeds once more so they are damp but not soaking wet.

Step 12

Put your face or jar on a sunny windowsill and check it every day.

Step 13

Water the cotton lightly once each day with the spray bottle to keep it damp.

Step 14

When the grass grows a few centimeters trim and style the green beard with scissors to shape it.

Step 15

Share your finished green beard on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use instead of cotton balls, a spray bottle, or grass seeds if we can't find them?

If you don't have cotton balls, use pulled-apart paper towels or coffee filters for the 'Pull apart cotton balls' step, substitute a clean medicine dropper or spoon for the spray bottle when you 'Lightly dampen' and 'Mist the seeds once more', and use fast-growing cress or chia seeds in place of grass seeds when you 'Sprinkle grass seeds'.

My seeds didn't sprout or the cotton dried out — what should we check and fix?

If seeds fail to sprout or the cotton dries, make sure in the 'Lightly dampen' and 'Water the cotton lightly once each day' steps the cotton stays evenly damp (not soaking), press the seeds gently into the cotton after 'Sprinkle grass seeds', and move the face or jar to a sunnier windowsill or loosely cover it to keep humidity.

How can I adapt the activity for toddlers, preschoolers, and older kids?

For toddlers use a pre-drawn, pre-cut paper face and pre-pulled cotton with adult help for 'Spread a thin line of white glue' and pressing cotton, for preschoolers let them draw and cut the paper face and spray the seeds themselves, and for older kids use the jar option, try different seed types, decorate the jar, and track growth before 'trim and style the green beard' with scissors.

How can we make the green beard more creative or longer lasting?

To personalize and improve results, decorate the paper face or jar before 'Place your paper face or jar upright', create patterns by sprinkling different seeds during 'Sprinkle grass seeds', add a thin layer of potting mix over the cotton for longer-lasting growth, and share your finished look on DIY.org after you 'trim and style the green beard'.

Watch videos on how to make a grass beard

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How To Grow A Beard For Beginners

4 Videos

Facts about gardening and plant growth for kids

♻️ Old jars, paper, and cotton make perfect upcycled planters for tiny garden projects like a grass beard.

🧵 Cotton is very absorbent, so damp cotton holds water well and helps seeds germinate on a paper beard.

🧔 Human beards grow about half an inch per month on average — your grass beard will turn green much faster!

🧪 Seed germination needs water, oxygen, and the right temperature — light often isn’t needed until after sprouting.

🌱 Some grass seeds can start to sprout in just 3–7 days when kept warm and moist.

How do I grow a grass beard on a paper face or jar?

To grow a grass beard, draw or use a paper face or clean jar, then spread a thin layer of damp cotton or paper towel where the beard should be. Sprinkle grass or wheatgrass seeds evenly over the damp cotton. Press gently and secure edges with tape or a rubber band. Keep the cotton consistently moist (mist daily) and place in bright, indirect sunlight. Seeds typically sprout in 3–7 days; trim and water as needed to maintain the beard.

What materials do I need to make a grass beard on a paper face or jar?

You'll need: paper or a clean jar, cotton wool or folded paper towels, grass or wheatgrass seeds, a spray bottle or cup for watering, glue or double-sided tape (or rubber bands for jars), scissors, a marker for drawing the face, and a shallow tray or plate to catch water. Optional: plastic wrap to create humidity, fertilizer for faster growth, and old newspapers to protect the work surface.

What ages is this grass beard activity suitable for?

This activity suits ages 3 and up with adult help. Toddlers (3–5) can do seed sprinkling and watering with supervision; preschoolers build fine motor skills while placing cotton. Ages 6–9 can assemble and manage watering schedules more independently. Older children enjoy experimenting with seed types and designs. Always supervise young children—seeds can be a choking hazard and scissors or glue need adult assistance.

What are the benefits of making a grass beard with kids?

Making a grass beard teaches kids about plant life cycles, responsibility, and patience. It boosts fine motor skills through seed placement and crafts, encourages sensory play with damp cotton and soil-less planting, and sparks creativity by designing beard shapes. Watching sprouts grow supports observation and scientific thinking. It's low-cost, recyclable, and can be a calming, screen-free activity for families to enjoy together.
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Grow a beard. Activities for Kids.