OBJECTIVE

Students will be able to make observations about worms

Students will be able to answer questions about worms based on their observations

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

What do worms need to survive?

How do worms help the soil?

MATERIALS NEEDED

• Worm bin/apartments
• Shredded paper
• Watering cans/spray bottles
• Finished worm castings
• Food scraps
• Gloves
• Plastic spoons or tools for digging through worm bin
• Worm Exploration and Observation Worksheet

PROCEDURE

Introduction:
Brainstorm a KWL sheet about worms (I Know-I Wonder-I Learned). Tell students they are going to make worm observations to answer some of their worm wonderings!

Activity: Set up different stations for students to do scientific observations
1) Worm bin – Bins of finished worm castings. Students can scoop out finished worm castings into another container or into the watering can for compost tea
2) Worm bin – empty bins. Students can fill the empty bins with food scraps and shredded paper.
3) Worm observation – Students can take a good look at worms, their sizes, shapes, movements, etc. Students can fill out the Worm Exploration and Observation Worksheet at this station.

Wrap up/ Assessment:

Each student shares one observation from the worm bins – one thing they didn’t know before. Add to the “L” column of the KWL sheet.

FOLLOW UP & EXTENSIONS

• Building a Worm Bin Lesson
• Make Compost Tea