Wonderful Worm Habitats!

Post contributed by Jocelyne Adkins, Program Director

Hi Families,

Our theme for this week is "The Wonderful World of Soil". Yesterday we learned about soil, soil layers, maintaining soil health and the importance of decomposers.  So it follows that today we would focus our attention on friendly worms, those all important decomposers that contribute greatly to soil health.

Yeoeun peers into her group's habitat

 
We began our session by reading the picture book "Yucky Worms" by Vivian French to learn how and why worms are so beneficial. The book unfolds in a conversational manner, as a grandmother in her own garden teaches her grandson why worms are anything but "yucky". Here are a few examples:

1. worm tunneling helps to loosen and aerate the soil
2. worm tunneling allows rainwater to filter down through the soil and allows roots to grow deeper into the soil
3. worm movement, as well as worm castings, carry important nutrients through the soil to help living things grow

Elise, Jordan, Yinka, D., and Shlok

Next, we visited the perimeter of Beye's native garden to find worms for observation and study. Here, we sprinkled some water (to simulate a rain shower) to coax the worms closer to the surface. Students waited a few minutes and then started to dig carefully. The children went about their task quite enthusiastically ~ each worm that was found was a moment of pure excitement!

Elijah, Jacob, & Chan

We returned to the classroom to assemble our worm habitats with gravel at the bottom, followed by layers of sand and soil. The students then contributed some organic matter to the top layer (dead leaves, grass clippings, apple cores and peels, and brussel sprout leaves). Then the fun part ~ the children added the worms to their habitats and watched with more excitement as the worms descended into the soil. Some worms could even be observed tunneling their way down through the soil, since they were positioned close to the interior of the clear bottle.

Observations over the next 2 weeks will include:
1. How worms aerate the soil and distribute nutrients due to their movement within it. By doing so, the layers of sand and soil we started with should no longer be distinct
2. How the worms aid in the process of decomposition.

The photos below document most of our process (except for attaching the top of the bottle to enclose the habitat) ~ it was a terrific afternoon!

Laila, Joel, Anika, Joey and Jessica

Jessica, Leila, Joey, Norah

Heidi and Elise receiving their worms from Ms. Bernstein

Joey, Norah & Leila (Jessica is behind Leila)

Shlok, Joel & Chan

Jadon, Laila, Jordan & Yeoeun

Elise, Heidi and Emily's worm habitat: can you see the worm tunneling in the top soil layer? 

worm habitat 1, top view with organic matter (without lid)

worm habitat 2, top view (without lid)

Elise, Heidi and Emily's worm habitat, side view with soil and sand layers

Joey, Norah, Jessica and Leila's worm habitat: This worm loved sitting on top of the apple peel!

Every few days we will add water and take a peek at our guests' progress through the soil and noting our observations. After approximately 2 weeks, we will return our worms to their natural habitat near the Beye native garden with a small going away party in their honor. Thank you worms, for all that you do!