Lesson packages for schools

Bring nature to life in the classroom with the Gel School Pack

Are you looking for an original, educational, and interactive project for the classroom? The Ant Farm Gel School Pack gives students a unique insight into the fascinating life of ants. This complete educational package is specially designed for schools and after-school care to bring biology closer in a tangible and inspiring way.

Low maintenance and safe for the classroom

The great advantage of a gel ant farm is its fantastic ease of use. The transparent, high-quality gel not only serves as a digging medium in which the ants make their tunnels, but also as their direct source of food and moisture. This means that extra feeding or humidification is not necessary, making the package extremely suitable and carefree for use in the classroom.

Crystal clear view of digging activities

Thanks to the clear material of the gel nest, children can follow crystal-clearly from all sides how the worker ants cooperate, dig tunnels, and organize the colony. It helps students learn about nature, cooperation, and the life cycle of insects in a playful way.

The benefits at a glance:

• Complete school package: Ready for immediate use in the classroom or after-school care.
• All-in-one gel: Functions as digging material, food, and moisture source in one.
• Minimal maintenance: No daily feeding or humidification required.
• Maximally educational: Provides crystal-clear insight into the digging process and the work structure of ants.
• Safe and clear: Designed for a clean and carefree observation experience.

Turn your biology class into an unforgettable experience and let the class delve into the wonderful world of ants with the Ant Farm Gel School Pack!

Stick Insect School Pack – Educational and Interactive in the Classroom

Do you want to teach children about nature, biology, and the wonderful world of insects in an enthusiastic, hands-on way? Our **Stick Insect School Pack** has been specially put together for primary schools, childcare organizations (out-of-school care/daycare), childminders, and nature education centers. Stick insects are calm, fascinating, and extremely easy to care for. They don't bite, make no noise, and show children up close every day how fantastically nature can camouflage itself!

Complete BioDome insect terrarium for optimal observation

The heart of the pack is the professional, glass **BioDome insect terrarium (20x20x34 cm)**. This enclosure is specially designed with the height that stick insects need to molt safely. The retractable glass panel at the front and the removable metal ventilation grille make it very easy for the teacher and children to clean the enclosure and provide fresh ivy or blackberry leaves.

All-in-one educational experience

With this pack, you can get started right away. In addition to the high-quality terrarium and 3 healthy nymphs (young stick insects), you will receive a handy instruction leaflet (A4-leaflet) that any teacher or supervisor can use without any prior knowledge. To complete the party in the classroom, there are no fewer than 30 cheerful insect stickers in the pack to hand out to the students!

Contents of the Stick Insect School Pack:

• 3x Stick Insect Nymphs: Healthy, young animals that grow up in the classroom
• 1x Professional BioDome Insect Terrarium (20x20x34 cm): Durable glass enclosure with excellent triple cross-ventilation
• 1x Plant Sprayer: To easily provide the necessary drinking droplets and humidity
• 1x Instruction Lesson Plan (A4-leaflet): Clear explanation and care tips for the teacher or supervisor
• 30x Reward Stickers: Fun stickers for all children in the class or group

Care in the Classroom – Easy & Accessible

Caring for stick insects only takes a few minutes a week. They mainly eat leaves from blackberry bushes, ivy (Hedera), or roses. With the included sprayer, you lightly mist the plants so that the animals can drink the water droplets. Ideal for giving children turns taking responsibility as 'class caretaker'!

Terrarium Specifications:

• Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 34 cm (L x W x H)
• Material: High-quality cut glass with metal ventilation grille
• Access: Convenient retractable glass panel at the front
• Ventilation: Optimal triple cross-ventilation (prevents mold)
• Decoration: Substrate and (artificial) plants can be ordered separately to your taste

Turn your classroom into a real discovery center and order the Stick Insect School Pack today from Ant Farm!

Butterfly School Package – Experience the wonder of nature in the classroom

Do you want to introduce children to the cycle of life in a wonderful and interactive way? The **Butterfly School Package** is one of the most popular educational nature projects for primary schools, childcare facilities (after-school care/daycare), childminders, and nature education. There is nothing more magical for a child than to daily follow the metamorphosis in the classroom: from a happily munching caterpillar to a spun cocoon, to the breathtaking moment when a real butterfly emerges!

Complete with physical life cycle models

This package makes biology lessons extra tangible. In addition to the breeding net, the package also contains **physical 3D models of the life cycle** (egg, caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly) and plastic model butterflies. This way, children can not only admire the different phases of metamorphosis in real life, but also hold and study the anatomy in advance in the classroom.

How does ordering caterpillars work? (March to September)

The school package itself is available directly from stock. In the box, you will find a **special coupon**. With this coupon, you can easily order the live caterpillars yourself from our specialized breeder in England at your desired time (you only pay a small contribution to the shipping costs). The breeder aims to send 10 caterpillars, with a guarantee that at least 7 caterpillars will be raised into healthy butterflies. The caterpillars come with all the necessary breeding food in their own breeding pot!

Reusable Butterfly Habitat (45 cm)

The included collapsible **45 cm Butterfly Habitat** is made of a fine-mesh, breathable netting that provides perfect ventilation and optimal viewing for students. After the butterflies hatch and are released, the habitat is easy to clean and reusable as a housing for other insects, such as ladybugs, praying mantises, or stick insects!

Contents of the Butterfly School Package:

• 1x Collapsible Butterfly Habitat (45 cm): Spacious, reusable, and fine-mesh breeding net
• 1x Coupon for the caterpillars: To be requested yourself from the breeder from March to September (excl. shipping costs)
• 1x Set of 3D Life Cycle Models: Physical models of egg, caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly
• Set of plastic model butterflies: For additional support during the lesson
• 1x Feeding pipette: For feeding the emerged butterflies with sugar water or nectar
• 1x Clear A4 lesson plan: Simple guide and instructions for teacher or supervisor
• 30x Reward stickers: Cheerful stickers to hand out in the classroom (more available on request)

Project progression in brief:

1. Caterpillar phase: The caterpillars eat the provided food from their breeding pot and grow quickly.
2. Pupation: The caterpillars hang under the lid and transform into shiny cocoons.
3. Emergence & Release: Place the cocoons in the 45 cm habitat. After emergence, observe and feed the butterflies for a few days, after which the class festively releases them into nature!

Give the children an unforgettable experience and transform your classroom into a real nature museum. Order the Butterfly School Package today from Mierenboerderij!

Ant Farm Sand School Package – A fascinating 8-week class project!

This school package contains products for keeping ants and is specifically designed for schools, childcare centers, host parents, and child-focused institutions. Learn about ants in a fun and educational way! This package is specifically intended for children aged 8-11. The school package includes comprehensive instructions to turn it into an 8-week project!

Package Contents

The package contains the following products and components:

• Sand Ant Farm with ant colony including food
• Ant life cycle (models)
• 30 stickers for the children in the class or group (more available upon request)
• Simple leaflet for teachers or supervisors with explanations and instructions
• Booklet 'Ants are heroes!'

Ant Farm Sand Starter Set – Natural Digging Behavior

Do you want to keep ants in the most natural way? In this classic sand ant farm, the ants dig their own chambers and tunnels, exactly as they do in nature. This starter set is constructed from high-quality, transparent plexiglass and combines the nest part and the arena in one sleek setup. Customize the set completely to your wishes.

Contents of the sand starter set:

• Sand Ant Farm (Nest part 15x15x1.4 cm)
• Integrated Town Square Arena (15x10x9 cm) with ventilated lid
• Full-color, multilingual instruction booklet with clear step-by-step instructions and complete explanations to successfully start your hobby
• Special Sand Clay Filling (300 grams) – the ideal mix for sturdy, collapse-proof tunnels
• Ant Docking Station (for optimal positioning and protection of the test tube)
• Moisture sprayer for precise humidification of the sand
• Connection hose & test tube connector
• Feeding set (sufficient for the first few months to a year)

Authentic craftsmanship from the Netherlands

We make this Ant Farm sand set entirely by hand in-house in the Netherlands! Because we manually produce and assemble each product, you may see small, light imperfections (such as tiny smudges or edges) up close or under bright lighting. We, of course, do everything we can to deliver each nest as neat and precise as possible.

Both the nest part and the arena are equipped with 10 mm connection openings on both sides. This allows you to effortlessly connect additional modules or a larger outworld to the set in the future. You can eventually build an enormous ant city!

When starting, please note that a colony needs to get used to the new environment. They will first develop further from their protected test tube before they start digging. Raising a colony therefore always requires some patience at the beginning but rewards you with a beautiful, natural spectacle.

Specifications & Technical data:

Nest Specifications:

• Material: High-quality, transparent plexiglass
• Nest part size: 15 x 15 cm (Internal depth: 1.4 cm for perfect viewing)
• Number of chambers: 1 large main chamber, the ants arrange the chambers themselves by digging
• Connections: 2 × 10 mm (on both sides)
• Capacity: Suitable for a colony of up to ±500 ants
• Humidification: Manually via the moisture sprayer (keep the sand partially lightly moist)

Arena Features:

• Arena size: 15 x 10 x 9 cm
• Accessibility: Directly connected to the nest part via connection hoses
• Connections: 2 × 10 mm
• Ventilation: Equipped with escape-proof openings in the lid
• Accessibility: Can be fully opened via the lid for easy feeding and cleaning

Ant Farm Plaster School Package – A fascinating 8-week class project!

This school package contains products for keeping ants and is specifically designed for schools, childcare centers, childminders, and organizations focused on children. Learn about ants in a fun and educational way! This package is specifically intended for children aged 9-12 (grades 4-7). The school package includes extensive instructions to turn it into an 8-week project!

Package Contents

The package contains the following products and components:

• Master set with Messor barbarus ant colony including food
• Ant life cycle (models)
• 30 stickers for the children in the class or group (more upon request)
• Simple leaflet for teacher or supervisor with explanation and instructions
• Booklet 'Ants are heroes!'

Ant Farm Plaster Starter Set

Discover the fascinating world of the harvester ant with this high-quality plaster ant farm starter set!

Contents of this starter set:

• Ant Farm Plaster Major (with 2 connection openings)
• Town Square Arena (15x10x9 cm – 2 connections)
• Full-color, multilingual instruction booklet with clear step-by-step plan and complete explanation to successfully start your hobby
• Connection hose (can be cut to size)
• Test tube connector
• Ant Docking Station (protects the queen and her ant colony)
• Protective film for the nest area
• Moisture sprayer for precise moistening of the reservoir

Why is a plaster nest perfect for Harvester Ants?

Harvester ants have specific requirements for their living environment. They need good moisture gradation: a humid section for brood care (eggs and larvae) and a bone-dry section for storing their winter supply of seeds.

The sleekly designed plaster nest provides the perfect solution. Each nest is completely handmade and equipped with a unique central moisture reservoir. This naturally creates moist chambers around the core, while the outer chambers remain dry. The shallow inner chambers (4 mm) are perfect for optimal observation, while the deeper outer chambers (7 mm) will be directly used by the harvester ants as grain silos.

Thanks to our years of experience, this set includes a beautiful full-color instruction booklet. This multilingual manual guides you through the startup phase with a clear step-by-step plan, so you know exactly how to best care for the colony and successfully build up the hobby.

We developed this set as part of our 'Master Series' – a high-quality line of ant farms with maximum durability and functionality. Because each nest is handmade, the color may vary slightly.

Specifications & Technical data:

Nest Specifications:

• Plaster nest length: 15 cm
• Plaster nest width: 10 cm
• Plaster nest thickness: 3 cm (chamber depth 4–7 mm for optimal seed storage)
• Plaster nest connections: 2 × 10 mm (easily expandable)
• Number of chambers: 8 chambers
• Capacity: Suitable for a colony of up to ±200 ants
• Moisturizing: Central moisture reservoir (effective for 1-2 weeks)

Arena Features:

• Arena size: 15 x 10 x 9 cm
• Arena connections: 2 × 10 mm
• Ventilation: Equipped with an escape-proof arena ventilation lid

Aqua Dragons School Pack – Discover the wonder of life underwater!

Do you want to introduce children to the biology of aquatic life in a magical and accessible way? The **Aqua Dragons School Pack** is a fantastic educational nature project for primary schools, childcare organizations (out-of-school care/daycare), and childminders. With this pack, you can hatch real Aqua Dragons (also known as Sea Monkeys) in the classroom. Children will be amazed as the tiny eggs start swimming around within 24 hours of being added to the water!

Fascinating underwater life in the classroom

Aqua Dragons are unique, small aquatic creatures with three eyes and a long tail. They spin, tumble, and frolic happily in the water. With proper care, they reproduce both through eggs and live birth, allowing the colony in the classroom to continue to grow. It's a fantastic way for students to learn about reproduction, care, oxygen, and the underwater ecosystem.

Complete and low-maintenance

Caring for the Aqua Dragons only takes a few minutes per week. The transparent tank is specially designed for optimal observation of the animals from all sides. With the included dosing spoon, children can give exactly the right amount of food, and the oxygen pipette easily provides the water with fresh air. An ideal 'classroom task' for students!

Contents of the Aqua Dragons School Pack:

• 1x Aqua Dragons tank (15x3x15 cm): Special transparent aquarium for optimal viewing (available with LED or color-LED lighting at an additional cost)
• 1x Bag of Aqua Dragons eggs: Hatch within 24 hours after being added to the water
• 1x Bag of Special Food: Enough food for the entire first year
• 1x Dosing spoon/scoop: To measure exactly the right amount of food
• 1x Oxygen pipette: For easy aeration of the water
• 1x Clear A4 lesson plan: Dutch explanation and instructions for the teacher or supervisor (in addition to the English manual)
• 30x Reward stickers: Cheerful stickers to hand out in the class or group (more available on request)

Specifications & Features:

• Tank dimensions: 15 x 3 x 15 cm (L x W x H)
• Target group: Primary schools, out-of-school care, daycare, and young nature explorers
• Maintenance: Weekly light feeding and aeration with the pipette
• Variants: Optionally expandable with atmospheric LED lighting in the base of the tank

Bring underwater biology to life in your classroom. Order the Aqua Dragons School Pack today from Mierenboerderij!

School Package Introduction to Insects – The wonderful world of insects in the classroom!

This school package contains a complete collection of products to introduce children to insects in an interactive and incredibly educational way. Specifically designed for schools, childcare organizations (out-of-school care/daycare), host parents, and nature education centers. No more separate projects, but three fascinating insect worlds combined in one unique teaching package!

Package Contents

The package contains the following products, components, and teaching materials:

• Gel Ant Farm including ant family and food/care
• Butterfly breeding kit (including coupon for ordering fresh caterpillars)
• Netcage breeding cage (30x30x30 cm) including a variety of stick insect nymphs
• 3x Physical Life Cycle Models of 3 different insects
• 3x Detailed lesson instructions for the teacher or supervisor
• 30x Reward stickers for the children in the classroom or group (more available on request)
• Booklet 'Ants are heroes!'

1) Gel Ant Farm (Including Ant Family)

Let the ants do their work and watch a complete tunnel system emerge before the children's eyes! The Gel Ant Farm is based on technology developed by NASA to study life in a weightless environment. It is an entirely self-supporting system: the transparent, blue gel serves as food, moisture, and shelter.

• Included: Blue Gel Ant Farm (16.5 x 15.2 x 3.2 cm), Ant Family (approx. 15 worker ants), magnifying glass, instructions, and the booklet 'Ants are heroes!'.

2) Butterfly Breeding Kit – Experience the Metamorphosis

Become part of nature and observe up close the wonder of a caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly!

How does it work with the caterpillars?
The school package is available immediately. In the box, you will find a coupon for 3 to 5 fresh caterpillars. With this, you can order your caterpillars directly from the breeder online (paying for international shipping costs). You can select your desired delivery time. Note: Butterfly breeding is possible from March to September.

The caterpillars grow quickly thanks to the included food, pupate into shiny cocoons, and emerge as real butterflies in the included foldable **30 cm Butterfly Habitat**. Observe them for a few days in the classroom and then release them festively into nature!

3) Netcage Breeding Cage 30x30x30 cm (Including Stick Insects)

A super handy, lightweight breeding cage made of sturdy, fine-mesh netting in a compact size (30 cm high x 30 cm wide x 30 cm deep). This breeding cage provides optimal ventilation and living environment for stick insects and other insects.

With this set, we supply a nice variety of young stick insects (nymphs). These can be, for example, Indian stick insects (which easily live on ivy/Hedera), Australian leaf insects, or Black Beauties. Children learn how fantastically these animals can camouflage themselves!

Educational, complete, and directly applicable

With the 3 included lesson instructions and the tangible 3D models of the different life cycles, teachers and out-of-school care supervisors have all the tools to create a series of inspiring nature lessons.

Give children an unforgettable experience and order the School Package Introduction to Insects today from Mierenboerderij!

Booklet 'Ants are Heroes!' – Discover the wonder of the ant colony

You can find ants everywhere around you: in the garden, in the forest, under stones, and sometimes even in your house. Unfortunately, they are often seen as pests, but that certainly doesn't do justice to these impressive little creatures! It's no coincidence that a well-known old proverb by King Solomon says: 'Go to the ant, consider its ways, and be wise' (Proverbs 6:6). An ant colony is a true wonder of nature, and the more you learn about them, the more you will appreciate them.

Background Information & Facts

In this booklet, written by Ant Farm founder Jan-Peter Oudenampsen, you will find all sorts of fascinating facts and in-depth background information about ants. You will discover how ants communicate with each other, how a colony organizes itself, and why ants are so indispensable to our nature. It is the perfect preparation for those seeking more in-depth knowledge, but also a fantastic source of information for a **presentation, paper, or school project**!

Please note: When purchasing a complete ant farm starter set or a loose ant colony, you will already receive a full-colour instruction manual for immediate care. This booklet 'Ants are Heroes!' is intended as an extra background and reading booklet full of facts and inspiration.

Why this booklet is highly recommended:

• Educational & Accessible: Fluidly written and beautifully illustrated for young and old.
• Ideal for the Classroom & Presentations: Packed with facts and figures perfectly suitable for a presentation.
• Inspiring: Offers a surprising and admirable look at the daily life of the ant.
• Compact & Affordable: The ideal little something or gift for any nature lover.

Product specifications:

• Title: Ants are Heroes!
• Author: Jan-Peter Oudenampsen
• Type: Educational background and information booklet
• Target Audience: Children, schools, novice ant keepers, and curious nature lovers
• Language: Dutch

Be amazed by the wisdom and strength of the smallest super-people in the world. Order the booklet 'Ants are Heroes!' today at Ant Farm!

Small Magnifying Glass – Discover the wonderful world up close

Nature is full of beautiful, hidden details that are easily overlooked with the naked eye. With this small and handy magnifying glass, you can bring the smallest micro-life into view a little larger! It is the ideal magnifying glass to closely follow the developments in your ant farm or to go on a discovery tour in the garden and the forest.

Sharp vision up to 6x magnification

This compact magnifying glass does exactly what you expect from it. Depending on the viewing distance and angle, you can magnify the image 2 to up to 6 times. For optimal, razor-sharp, and comfortable vision, we recommend a magnification of 2 to 4 times. Perfect for accurately studying eggs, tiny larvae, the legs of a stick insect, or the antennae of an ant queen!

Indispensable for every nature researcher

Whether you're checking the progress of your ant colony at home, looking for tracks in the forest, or studying insects in the backyard: thanks to its light and compact size, you can easily take this magnifying glass anywhere. A great and educational accessory for both young and old!

Product specifications:

• Type: Compact handheld magnifying glass / loupe
• Magnification: 2x to 4x (optimally sharp) up to a maximum of 6x magnification
• Application: Ideal for studying ants, brood, stick insects, plants, and insects
• Use: Suitable for indoors at the ant farm and outdoors in nature

Make nature even more beautiful and experience your ant hobby up close. Order the small magnifying glass today at Mierenboerderij!

Insect Magnifying Pot with Magnifying Glass – Discover the smallest micro-life!

For those fascinated by the wonderful world of insects, this **small magnifying pot with an integrated magnifying glass** is the perfect solution. Easily catch an ant, beetle, spider, or ladybug and observe the delicate legs, antennae, and details that you might easily miss with the naked eye!

Built-in magnifying glass and safe ventilation

The lid of the magnifying pot features a clear magnifying glass with a diameter of 4 cm. This gives you an immediate fantastic, magnified view of the creature inside the container. To ensure captured insects remain safe during observation, the lid is equipped with fine ventilation holes for a constant supply of fresh air.

Compact, lightweight, and ideal for on the go

With a compact size of 6 cm high and a capacity of 0.17 liters, you can easily carry this magnifying pot in your jacket or trouser pocket during a walk in the forest or an exploration in the backyard. It's also an incredibly handy accessory for your ant farm to quickly observe a worker ant or brood up close before safely returning them!

Product specifications:

• Product: Magnifying Pot / Observation Pot with magnifying glass
• Height: 6 cm
• Pot diameter: 6 cm
• Capacity: 0.17 liters
• Magnifying glass diameter: 4 cm
• Ventilation: Equipped with safe ventilation holes in the lid
• Application: Ideal for temporarily studying ants, beetles, spiders, and other small insects

Turn every walk or garden check into a journey of discovery. Order the insect magnifying pot with magnifying glass today at Mierenboerderij!

With this professional and compact magnifier, you'll truly miss no detail. Whether you want to closely study the eggs and larvae of your ant colony, inspect small insects, or view details of other hobby objects; this magnifier provides a crystal-clear image with its 30x magnification.

Now with Built-in LED Lighting

This updated version is equipped with a subtle, bright LED light. The illumination is precisely directed at the focal point, eliminating shadows and making the object you want to magnify even more beautiful and visible with greater contrast. You don't have to worry about the power supply: the necessary battery is included, so the magnifier is immediately ready for use.

Compact and Durable

Thanks to its handy size, you can easily take the magnifier anywhere. The sturdy casing optimally protects the lens when not in use. An indispensable tool for every ant keeper and nature lover who wants to make the invisible visible.

Specifications:

• Magnification: 30x
• Lighting: Subtle built-in LED light for optimal visibility
• Power Supply: Battery included
• Application: Ideal for studying ants, insects, plants, and small details