Creator: Museum of Science and Industry | visit site
Grade Range: 1 - 8
This site offers instructions on how to create a worm farm. The materials are everyday items that are inexpensive. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. The project itself appeals to the "gross" factor that students love. Worms are easy to control and pose little threat in the classroom and observing them move through ground is entertaining for all.
In the Classroom
The worm farm could be created in class. For younger students, it could be a classroom project where students are in charge of care and making observations of the worms. Older students could be shown a teacher model of the worm farm, and discuss what conditions could be changed which would start an inquiry project. This could lead to students creating experiment plans and carrying out their own ideas in class or at home. Students could also discuss soil and the relationship between the living and non-living things in the soil or even in an ecosystem. Have students create videos of the worm farms and narrate the videos with what they learned through inquiry and investigation. Use a video sharing tool such as SchoolTube <a href="/single.cfm?id=9437">reviewed here</a>.
At Home
Use this site as a summer project with your child!
Tags
inquiry, worms, inquiry, worms,