How to Make a Mason Jar Aquarium: A Fun Kids Activity

Learn how to make a mason jar aquarium! This fun kids activity is perfect for a rainy day or when you’re stuck inside and looking for something new and different to do. It’s also a wonderful kids summer activity!

Marybeth’s note: This article was written during the pandemic when we were all desperate for kids activities! While we’re (thankfully!) past that time now, I left the references to how we were looking for things to do while stuck inside.

We’re all about the fun kids activities right now. We kind of need to be, right? We’re all stuck together, mostly indoors, with little variety in our day-to-day lives.

If I don’t put together interesting things for my kids to do, no one else will do it for me. 

And if my kids don’t have anything to keep them busy, I think we’ll all just lose it. Honestly.

Screens are so easy. Too easy. I’m well aware I need to make an honest effort to come up with fun indoor kids activities that can be done far away from tablets, computers, televisions and phones.

We need DIY projects, crafts, art ideas and anything else that takes up time and helps them be creative.

We’re doing our best to keep screen time to a minimum, but it’s tough when they need technology to connect with school, friends and family. So our limits only apply to recreational games.

Ugh. Being a parent can be hard at the best of times. Right now I have no idea what to do! At least I’m not alone here, right?

Anyway, it’s not about me right now. It’s about doing what’s best for my kiddos.

Haiden and Piper are trying out a few different online educational portals, like Khan Academy, Dance Pad and Adventure Academy, which means they’re sitting in front of computers more often than I ever thought I’d be ok with.

I could go on about uncharted territory. Desperate times and desperate measures. Grace and “doing the best we can.” Because, the truth is, I’ve told myself all of it.

We’re all just trying to make it through this period without getting sick and staying safe. So this mom refuses to feel any sort of guilt over screen time. 

But that doesn’t mean I want my kids to spend all day, every day in front of a computer. Far from it.

We’ve made DIY kinetic sand and a variety of different slimes. Glitter slime, glow in the dark slime, and ocean slime are just the beginning of our slime recipes to try!

We’ve also made homemade playdough and homemade bubbles that are safe for indoor use.

I’ve been making a few things on my own, too! DIY hand sanitizer and hand sanitizing wipes are the most important things I’ve made for our family, but I’ve also enjoyed making paper flowers and crafting with my Cricut to brighten my day.

But we’re needing more and different kids activities, especially now, when we need to fill up days. So it’s time to make a mason jar aquarium!

This easy kids activity appealed to my kids for a few different reasons.

1. Pets – even pretend pets – are fun.
2. They got to use the hot glue gun.
3. Food coloring.
4. It’s a water craft!

When it’s all done, the kids get a craft that’s easy to display and fun to look at!

How to make a mason jar aquarium

Be sure to make sure you have all the materials and understand the instructions before you get started making your project with your kids. It’s not complicated, but sometimes I want to to jump right in.

I have firsthand knowledge of how disappointed kids get when crafts and projects can’t be finished!

Mason jar aquarium materials

These are the items you need for your homemade mason jar aquarium:

• Mason jar with a lid. The kind with the ring and flat top work just fine.
• Aquarium rocks or aquarium marbles
• Blue food coloring
• Plastic fish
• Aquarium plant
• Fishing line
• Water
• Hot glue gun
• Glue sticks

Here’s a guide to everything you need to complete this kids activity:

Regular Mouth Mason JarsSee more detailsPlastic Aquarium PlantsSee more detailsOutdoor Fishing LineSee more detailsNovelty Pack Vinyl GoldfishSee more detailsGlass Marbles for AquariumSee more detailsAmazonite Fish Tank RocksSee more detailsMini Hot Glue Gun Combo PackSee more detailsMulti Temp Glue SticksSee more details

 

Mason Jar Aquarium Instructions

1. Drop a small handful of aquarium rocks or aquarium marbles into the mason jar. Put an aquarium plant among the rocks. If it won’t stand up straight you can add a dot of hot glue and secure it to rocks or the jar.
   
   
2. Add blue food coloring to 2 cups water and pour it into the jar.
   
   
3. Tie two pieces of fishing line to a plastic fish. One in the front and one around the tail. Attach the fishing line to the inside of the mason jar lid with a dot of hot glue.
   
   
4. Put the lid on the mason jar and tighten. If you’re satisfied with the positions of everything inside the jar, you can add hot glue to the lid ring and quickly screw it on the jar to keep it securely closed.