Curated OER
Life in a Log
Learners identify insects living in rotting logs. In this decomposition lesson, students observe pieces of a rotting log, they look at the insects that have inhabited the log and create a chart that shows their findings.
Curated OER
Food Web
Students are able to define food web, and identify the interdependence of organisms within a system. They are able to describe how natural events and human activities can impact a food web.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Earthworm Castings: Soil for Young Garden Plants
Everybody knows that worms are good for the soil, but not everybody knows why. Here's a project that investigates just one of the ways earthworms improve the earth.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Extension: Claude's Got the Scoop on Soil
Students learn about how soil is made, who really needs soil, and what happens to soil if you don't take care of it.
Other
Children of the Earth: Soil Facts for Kids
Cute site for younger students to learn the basic facts about soil. Follow the questions and answers posed by a cute earthworm and his family!
Read Works
Read Works: Earthworms Do Good Work
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about earthworms and how they help the soil. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
BiologyWise
Biology Wise: Common Earthworm Classification and Characteristics
The taxonomic classification of the earthworm is described and its anatomical characteristics.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: How Diets Affect Earthworms and the Soil They Enrich
In this environment-oriented experiment, you will mix it up with earthworms, soil, and various types of organic kitchen scraps. The basic idea is to set up small earthworm colonies to compost different types of food waste. You test the...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Earthworms: Nature's Tiller?
Everybody knows that worms are good for the soil, but not everybody knows why. This lab shows you how to efficiently measure earthworms within units of soil to determine their affect on decomposition and reduction of surface residue.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Earthworm Hunt: The Search Is On!
In this field lab activity, students predict and test areas around the school where they think earthworms will be found. After extracting some from the site, students observe the worms.
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies
Mocomi: Earthworm: The Farmer's Friend
Discover how earthworms help farmers.
BiologyWise
Biology Wise: Digestive System of an Earthworm
Provides information about the anatomy of the earthworm's digestive system and why the earthworm plays such an important role in soil health.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: Forces of Change: Worm Watch [Pdf]
Over a period of a week to ten days students observe the impact worms have on soil. Seven easily obtainable objects are all that is needed to complete this activity. 45 minutes are required for setup and some additional time for...
Other
Nature Canada: Connect With Nature: Worm Watch
WormWatch is a Canadian program that uses volunteers to observe changes in the earthworms in their environments, and submit their observations. Monitoring earthworms provides valuable information about the health of local soils so that...
Other
Covington Independent Public Schools: A Worm Farm
Students will observe firsthand that worms change organic waste into soil. Directions and a cut/paste worksheet are included in this lesson.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University: Lets Net: Worm Bin Project Unit
Students learn about the worm life cycle and decomposition of life by creating small-scale worm ecosystems. Research groups share scientific data with groups at other schools using web-based communication tools.
Other
Worm Woman's Web Site
Basic introduction to former biology teacher Mary Appelhof's books on vermicomposting at home/school/small businesses. Moderate autobiographical information on Applehof and her goals and purpose for vermicomposting. Brief description of...