Enlarge one of the slits on the lower dirt CD case: score the edges of the slit on both sides of the case until you are able to snap off enough plastic to create a square hole. The final hole should be as wide as the edge of the CD case.

Ants tend to prefer dark locations. Tape together two pieces of construction paper lengthwise or use a sheet of aluminum foil to create a long rectangle that is the same height as one CD case and that is long enough to wrap around the entire lower case with several inches of overlap.

A. Seal Holes: To fill the lower CD case with soil, all small holes must first be sealed with tape. Use long strips of packing tape to close and seal the bottom edge and the side opposite the hinge, but leave the half-inch gap along the case’s spine open so you can add soil through the gap. Place a small piece of temporary tape over the top edge to cover the entry/exit hole.

B. Sift soil: Before adding soil to the farm, sift dried soil to remove clumps and debris. You will need approximately ½ cup of sifted soil.

A. Attach CD case filled with soil to base: Locate one of the square pieces of plastic that came from the interior of one of the CD cases. Use a strip of packing tape along one bottom edge of the CD case filled with soil to attach it to the base piece.

Make sure that the top edge with the entry/exit hole faces upwards. A careful taping job will ensure that the ant farm will remain upright. Lay the CD case filled with soil flat on its side to attach a second strip of packing tape along the second side of the bottom edge of the CD case.

Once the second side is attached, the CD case filled with soil should be able to remain upright on its own.

B. Remove the temporary piece of tape that is covering the entry hole.

C. Attach the upper CD case to the lower CD case filled with soil. First, apply a strip of tape along the length of one of the sides of the CD filled with soil, leaving about half of the tape sticking up above the top of the CD.

Fold the tape down, and reposition the upper CD case so its entry/exit hole lines up with the hole in the lower CD case. Once the CD cases are properly lined, up, let the tape adhere to the upper CD case.

Then, tilt back the upper CD case, and apply a second piece of tape to the other side of the lower CD case, and tape the upper CD case securely in place

Check to make sure that the hole in the upper CD case lines up with the hole in the lower CD case.

Snap this interior plastic piece into two pieces, and then fit the side that contains part of the CD case’s spine back into the CD case to seal the edge.

B. Use several small pieces of tape to cover the small holes on the edges of the top CD case.

A. Use an eyedropper or similar device to add approximately 2 tablespoons of water to the ant farm through the farm’s entry hole. This water will soak down through the rest of the ant farm to provide enough moisture for the ants.

B. Add ants into the top CD case, and close the lid, being careful to avoid crushing the ants. It may take the ants a little while to find the entry hole.

C. Wrap the construction paper or aluminum foil cover around the soil portion of the ant farm when you are not trying to view the ants.

D. To feed the ants, open the top CD case and place food on the surface inside. If there are a lot of ants that could attempt to escape, place the ant farm in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to slow them down before opening the case to feed them.