Shadowing Practice: Build a Tiny Plant World! | Science Project for Kids - Learn English Speaking with Video

Squeaks and I are making a tiny world!

With just a few plants and some soil, we're going to make a small garden that can take care of itself.

It's called a terrarium.

The kind of terrarium we're making is a closed terrarium, which means it's covered and you don't need to water it.

Plants need soil, sunlight, and water to live.

The plants in a terrarium have soil, and the container is clear so sunlight gets to them.

But how do plants in a closed terrarium live The plants in a closed terrarium get water because of the water cycle.

When it rains outside, a lot of the water goes into puddles, rivers, lakes, and the oceans.

Then the sun warms up some of that water, and it changes into what's called water vapor.

The water we see in rivers, lakes, and oceans is a liquid.

But water vapor is a gas, like the air we breathe.

You can't see water when it's vapor, but it's still there.

Once the liquid water changes into water vapor, it rises up into the sky.

and the water vapor turns back into a liquid.

The little droplets of water gather into clouds.

And when there's a lot of water in a cloud, it falls back to the ground as rain.

And then the cycle starts all over again.

The same thing is going to happen in our terrarium, but on a smaller scale.

The sun will warm up the water in the terrarium, but when it turns into water vapor, the vapor will stay inside the container.

Then when it cools down a little, the water vapor will turn back into a liquid.

You might see the water dripping down the sides of the container as it falls back down to the soil, like a tiny version of a rain shower.

The cycle starts all over again.

So that's how the plants in our terrarium will get water: the water cycle.

You're right, Squeaks!

We can talk about it all day, but let's get to building it so we can see it with our own eyes.

Here's what you'll need for your terrarium.

First, you'll need a clear container.

It has to be clear to let the sun in.

We're going to use this big glass jar, but you can also use a clean 2 -liter soda bottle, or an empty fish tank, or whatever you want.

You should also get some plants, of course.

You'll want to use plants that like an environment with lots of water vapor in the air.

ferns or mosses are good for that.

And you might need to have a grown -up buy these at a store.

You should get some good potting soil, too.

You'll also need some small rocks and a little bit of charcoal.

They'll help the water stay clean.

Finally, you can also get some small decorations if you want.

Okay, if you're using a plastic bottle, the first thing you should do is cut the top off.

Ask a grown -up for help with this part.

Next, wash whatever container you're using with soap and water, and then dry it with a clean towel.

Now that your container is ready, you can start constructing your tiny world.

First, you should put about two to two and a half centimeters of little rocks at the bottom.

This helps the water drain out of the soil, so it's easier for it to turn into water vapor.

On top of that, add a layer of charcoal, about one and a half centimeters deep.

The charcoal is optional, but if you want your terrarium to last a long time, it's a good idea because it'll keep the water clean, and clean water makes healthier plants.

Next, fill about half your container with soil.

And now it's time for the plants!

Decide how you want to arrange them, and dig small holes with your fingers for the plants.

Then gently put the plants in the soil.

Spread some soil over the roots, and carefully pat down the soil so the plants are secure and won't fall over.

If you have decorations for your little world, now's a good time to put those in.

And now that it looks all awesome, lightly water the plants to get the water cycle started.

And now it's time to close up the terrarium.

If you're using a bottle, tape the top back on.

We have a lid.

And now all we have to do is put it where there's lots of light,

but it won't be directly put in the terrarium will be soaked up by the plant's roots and the soil,

but eventually, the sun will warm it up and turn it into water vapor.

Then, when the water vapor gets a little cooler, it'll turn back into liquid water.

That's when you'll probably see it sliding down the sides of the container to water the soil and roots again.

Keep an eye on your terrarium for the first few weeks and months, as the plants adjust to their new space and water cycle.

You might need to open it up and add a little more water, or move it to where there's more or less light.

Once you establish a good spot and little world, it'll take care of itself!

Terrariums can last for a really long time!

Squeaks and I read about one that hasn't needed fresh water in more than 40 years!

Have fun planting your terrarium and creating your own water cycle, and let us know how it turns out!

Ask a grown -up to help you leave a comment down below, or send us an email to kids @scishow .com!

Thanks, and we'll see you next time, here at the Fort!

you

📺 Same Channel

KidsDaily Conversation

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 69 sentences and 967 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:38. The speaker talks fast, about 209 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
soil noun	/sɔɪl/	A mixture of mineral particles and organic material, used to support plant growth.
vapor noun	/ˈveɪpɚ/	Cloudy diffused matter such as mist, steam or fumes suspended in the air.
container noun	/kənˈteɪ.nəɹ/	An item in which objects, materials or data can be stored or transported.
liquid noun	/ˈlɪk.wɪd/	A substance that is flowing, and keeping no shape, such as water; a substance of which the molecules, while not tending to separate from one another like those…
charcoal noun	/ˈt͡ʃɑɹ.koʊl/	impure carbon obtained by destructive distillation of wood or other organic matter, that is, heating it in the absence of oxygen.
cloud noun	/ˈklaʊ̯d/	A visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air.
sunlight noun	/ˈsʌnˌlaɪt/	All the electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun; especially, that in the visible spectrum and that bathes the Earth.
decoration noun	/ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/	The act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring; ornamentation.
finger noun	/ˈfɪŋɡɚ/	A slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb, and the corresponding part, irrespective of including a thumb, in many other…
carefully adverb	/ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/	With care; attentively, circumspectly.
establish verb	/ɪˈstæb.lɪʃ/	To make stable or firm; to confirm.
tape noun	/teɪ̯p/	Flexible material in a roll with a sticky surface on one or both sides; adhesive tape.
layer noun	/ˈleɪ̯ɚ/	A single thickness of some material covering a surface.
pot noun	/pɑt/	A flat-bottomed vessel (usually metal) used for cooking food, possibly excluding saucepans (see usage notes).
slide noun	/ˈslaɪ̯d/	An item of play equipment that children can climb up and then slide down again.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
warm up verb	/ˌwɔː(ɹ)m ˈʌp/	To become warmer.
close up verb	/kləʊzˈʌp/	To close (remove a gap) completely or fully.
cool down verb	/kuːl ˈdaʊn/	To become cooler; to be reduced in temperature.
fall back verb		To retreat.
fall over verb		To fall from an upright or standing position to a horizontal or prone position.
grow up verb		To mature and become an adult.
turn out verb		To end up; to result.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 22 contractions and reduced forms, such as you'll, you're, it'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: breathe /bɹiːð/, gather /ˈɡæðɚ/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: decoration /ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/, establish /ɪˈstæb.lɪʃ/, optional /ˈɑp.ʃə.nəl/
Long words — get the stress right: decoration /ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/, terrarium /təˈɹɛɹ.i.əm/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like soil, vapor, container.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	is cut · is put · will be soaked
Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea	should also get · should get · should do
Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain	might see · might need
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction	will warm · will turn · will get

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Build a Tiny Plant World! | Science Project for Kids - Learn English Speaking with Video

Build Earth from the Inside Out! - #sciencegoals

Why Does Cooking Eggs Make Them Hard? | The Science of Cooking | SciShow Kids

How Do Our Bodies Move?

How Do Koalas Stay Cool? | Animal Science for Kids

Let's Plant a Garden! | Squeaks Grows a Garden! | SciShow Kids

Why Do Animals Have Tails?

Why Do We Get Goosebumps?

How Airplanes Fly! | Airplane Science | SciShow Kids

Let's Make Slime! | Experiment | SciShow Kids

What's Your Funny Bone?

Dig In To Paleontology

Blue Whales: The Biggest Animal EVER! | SciShow Kids

Earth's Most Extreme Weather | SciShow Kids Compilation

Unpoppable Bubbles! | Summer Experiments | SciShow Kids

Watch a Seed Sprout! | Squeaks Grows a Garden! | SciShow Kids

Where Does Yogurt Come From?

Amazing Animal Groups | Science for Kids

The Amazing Power of Magnets | SciShow Kids Compilation

What is Sound? | Physics for Kids | SciShow Kids

Your Body's Senses | SciShow Kids Compilation

EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS TO DO AT HOME

How Do Plants Grow?

El Mundo De Luna! - ¿De Donde Viene La Lluvia? #Episodio completo

MY OWN RAINFOREST | Kids Read along animated picture book with English subtitles #environment #calm

Types of Caves for Kids - How Caves are Formed for Children - FreeSchool

What if You Landed on Kepler-22b? | Exploring a Mysterious Alien Planet | The Dr. Binocs Show

What If The Whole World Runs On 100% Solar Energy? | The Dr. Binocs Show | Peekaboo Kidz

Insects for Kids | Fun Facts and Bug Adventures!

Astronaut Experiment: Crash Course Kids #32.2

How to Take Care of the Environment - Save Environment (Learning Videos For Kids)