Worms for Lunch

Worms for Lunch

The Unseen Helpers
Lesson: 3.4
Level:
Intermediate
Station: Vermiculture
Format: Class Project
Rating:
Intermediate Lesson 3.4 Worms for Lunch

Lesson Overview

It's always helpful to have a solid reference guide to turn to when an unknown critter arrives on the scene. This lesson is the start to an ongoing project that will result in a catalog of microorganisms that call the worm bin home.

Goals

  • Students will be able to describe the role of microbes in the vermicomposting process.

Outcomes

Students will identify the microbes present in the worm bin in order to create a catalog of the biota for future reference.

Teach the Teacher

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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