Science on the Road
Classroom Days
Worms
Pre-visit Activity:
Pass out one thick rubber band, scissors, and pen to partners. Have students draw parallel lines (about 10) on the rubber band. Then holding both ends, have students stretch rubber bands back and forth to demonstrate the movement of setae (see-tee), microscopic hairs on segments, that help the worms move.
Have students become familiar with these terms:
Cold-blooded animals
Vermicomposting
Create Your Own Worm Farm
What you need:
redworms (found at bait shops)
cordless drill
food scraps (coffee grinds, fruits, vegetables, and eggshells)
spray bottle with water
shredded newspaper
small plastic bin with lid (not clear)
plastic shovel or fork
What to do:
- Have a parent or adult drill 4 holes in the bin and lid. Put 2 holes in the lid and 1 hole on each of the long sides of the bin. Drill side holes close to top.
- Fill about half the bin with newspaper. Spray with water to dampen it.
- Place redworms in bin.
- Add scraps of food to one corner of bin. Cover food with some of the newspaper.
- Cover with lid.
- Check bin daily. Mist with water if material is too dry. Stir it up with fork periodically. Feed new scraps everyday, rotating which corner you put them in.
- After about a month, check compost amount, adding more newspaper if needed. You also need to remove the castings with the fork, then use it on indoor/outdoor plants or your garden.
Books:
Squirmy Wormy Composters, by Bobby Kalman & Janine Shaub New York: Crabtree Publishing Co., 1992
Supplies:
Worm World
26 Ihnat Lane
Avella, PA 15312
724-356-2397
Resources:
http://www.wormdigest.org
http://wormwoman.com
http://wormwrld.com
http://oldgrowth.org/compost/vermi.html