5^th Grade: Vermiculture in the Classroom

Learning Landscapes staff meets with students to discuss what vermiculture is, why red wiggler worms are used and not other types of worms. Each child is given a plate with compost and worms on it to look at under hand lenses/microscopes. The students then separate the worms from the compost and weigh the worms. The worms are also weighed all together before they are added to the worm bin. Students learn how to maintain a healthy worm bin, what they eat and how much to feed them. The class receives a journal to record information about the type of food they feed, the quantity of food and the condition of the worm bin. At the end of the school year the students will disassemble their worm bin and conclude their vermiculture project. Students separate worms from castings and weigh each to determine amount of castings produced and any changes in population size Students use the castings from their bin to fertilize one of two containers of flowers outside the 5^th grade hallway. Students should periodically observe the plant growth in each container and note any differences between the fertilized and  non-fertilized plants. Labels to identify experiment are laminated and used for visitors to understand the program.  

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