The Wonder of Worms By Alexis, Elrich, Malieka, and Richard

Our class wants to start a garden. We decided We also wanted to investigate how to take care of worms and keep them safe. to learn about worms. Our main question was: How do worms help soil and plants?

We started our investigation by looking closing at worms. We put them on a piece of wet napkin and used magnifying glasses to study them. We made little caves out of paper towels to see if they liked the light or dark better. They liked the dark better. We also picked them up in our hands very gently, They liked to stretch their bodies out on our skin. We couldn't keep them there very long because they don't like it too dry.

We also read some books to learn more about worms. We learned that worms eat dirt and small pieces of bugs and leaves as they tunnel through the soil. We also read that they move the soil around and this lets more air and water get to the roots of plants.

To watch what worms do to help the soil, we made a worm container to keep worms in our classroom. We used a clear container and soil for a home for our worms. We kept a cover over the worms so it would be dark. When we took the cover off we saw the tunnels the worms had dug. They kept digging like they were doing a job. One unusual thing we saw was a white worm.

Once, someone accidentally over-watered the soil. The worms floated to the top. The worms were trying to get out of the wet soil to find dry land. We decided to add more soil to the container to dry it out which the worms seemed to like. We learned that the worms like their soil moist, not over-watered.

When we plant out garden, we will need to make sure the soil is in good condition and that it is kept moist. That way the worms will be able to do their work to help our plants grow. We will have to be careful where we dig and step so we don't injure the worms.

Next year we will watch the garden to see if the worms are healthy and doing their work in the soil. We also want to learn more about other animals that are good for gardens, like ladybugs.