Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the life cycle and behavior of worms, and create and maintain your own worm farm.
Materials and Prep
Materials:
- A clear plastic container with lid
- Garden soil
- Vegetable scraps
- A few worms (can be collected from the garden)
- Water spray bottle
Prep:
- Prepare the plastic container by drilling small holes in the lid for ventilation
- Gather the materials and set up a workspace
Activities
1. Create the worm farm:
- Add a layer of garden soil to the bottom of the container
- Place the vegetable scraps on top of the soil
- Add the worms to the container
- Spray a little water to keep the soil moist
- Cover the container with the lid
2. Observe and record:
- Observe the worms and their behavior daily
- Record any changes in the container, such as the appearance of worm castings
Talking Points
- Worms are important for the soil because they aerate and mix the soil, and their castings are a natural fertilizer.
- "Charles Darwin said, 'It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world as have these lowly organized creatures.'"
- Worms have both male and female reproductive organs, and they can lay eggs which hatch into baby worms.
- "Aristotle called worms the 'intestines of the earth' because of their role in soil health."