Worms for Lunch

Lesson Overview
Goals
- Students will be able to describe the role of microbes in the vermicomposting process.
Outcomes
Teach the Teacher
- The Complete Guide to Vermicomposting (included w/ Worm Factory 360)
- Anatomy of the Red Wiggler Worm
Tools & Materials
- Microscope
- Worm castings
Activity
No two worm bins will ever be the same. There are countless participants that help the worms do what they do. And the environment inside the worm bin will dictate which microbes are present and which ones are not.
The biota that exists in a well balanced worm bin represents harmony. Each participant does it’s job and works collaboratively with the others. There are predators and prey, as well as primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers.
To truly understand the complexity of this ecosystem it’s imperative to take a closer look. And knowing just which participants are present will help students better understand the health of the bin as a whole. It may also provide an early warning system of sorts when something goes awry.
Identify and catalog microorganisms discovered in the worm bins. Examine casting samples periodically to build out the catalog of soil food web participants.
Related Lessons
Give the Advanced lesson a try now that you’ve completed the Intermediate Lesson! Or revisit the Beginner Lesson as needed.
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