WWW Worm Lesson

Created by Kim Cherry

Content Area: Earth Science/Life Science/Ecology

Appropriate Grade Level: Sixth

Objectives:

1. The student will be able to explain interactions in ecosystems.
2. The student will be able to make a connection between Earth Science, Biology and Botany.

WWW Resources

• Plowing Through Garbage
• Explorations in Composting
• Worm World
• The Composting Handbook
• Worm Composting

Directions: This lesson is designed to assist Sixth Graders in making the transition between Earth Science and Life Science. Prior to this lesson students collect dirt and do a series of soil analysis activities in the lab. In the computer lab students work in pairs.

Preliminary Activity: Students explore Worm World.
Students go to Plowing Through Garbage with the following specific directions.

1. Read through Activity Background to learn about earthworms as decomposers.
2. Read A birds-eye view to learn about the anatomy of earthworms.
3. Students click on parts of illustrations of worms to verify correct identification of body parts underCan you identify the earthworm's body parts?
4. Students read through Activity 1: Do You Dig Worms?
5. Students read through Activity 2: Discovering Earthworms for future reference.
6. Students collect worms as a class activity or teacher brings worms in.
7. Students discover characteristics of earthworms using ideas found in Activity 2. A less extensive hands-on study should be made than that described in the activity to avoid duplicating a similar activity which is usually done in Seventh Grade Life Science.
8. Students read through Activity 3: Little Soil Plows and answer the questions proposed in #1 on paper.
9. Class performs Activity 3 to make observations about earthworms at work
10. Students research "compost" including the site "Explorations in Composting".
11. Dirt that was collected prior to the lesson is to divided into four trays.
    • One as a control with just dirt.
    • Second with dirt and compost.
    • Third with dirt and worms.
    • Fourth with dirt, compost and worms.
12. After a period of time (six weeks) reanalyze soil and make observations about the changes made by the earthworms.
13. Final step in the transition from Earth Science to Biology to Botany is to plant radish or similar seeds in each of the four trays and record the difference in growth and analyze.

Follow-up Activities:

• Start composting at home.
• Monitor temperature of compost.
• Learn more about different types of worms.
• Use different types of worms.