Don't
Worm Your Way Out of This One!
Related Resources
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Don't
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Web Links
Harcourt School Publishers offers three interactive activities for students. In Soil Composition, students learn about the different layers of soil. In Soil Formation, students order images to show the soil formation process. In Composting, students decide whether selected resources should be composted or recycled. Note: If you have an older browser, you may need to download Macromedia Shockwave to view movies.
Worms is a wonderful song to sing with your students that reinforces caring for worms and other critters.
Earthworms by Scott Hudson is a great sing along song to reinforce the concept of decomposition. Scott teaches science for Cincinnati Public Schools.
Worms is a song about, what else, worms! Click on the link to view Lauren Wiethorn's kindergarten class as they sing this tune. Requires Windows Media Player or comparable software.
Worm World, owned and operated by John and Kay Ihnat, sells and ships high quality redworms by the pound. Our teachers tell us their quality is unmatched. Contact them by phone at 724-356-9676. Note: As of our last check (November 2007) their web address had been hijacked by a domain theif--no kidding!
The Benefits of Composting by Mike Wright and John Farmer offers compelling reasons why everyone should compost. Click on the icon above.
Spencer's Team News Kid's Edition: Composting, produced by the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, contains valuable composting information. It is available in online (low resolution, color) and printable (high resolution, grayscale) formats.
www.mastercomposter.com is one of the most comprehensive Internet sites for composting. It even supplies a composting search engine. Click on the web address above.
Science for Ohio's Composting Virtual Tour takes you step-by-step through the process of setting up and maintaining a compost pile. This tour is part of another Science for Ohio inquiry, Leaf It in Your Yard.
Hamilton County Environmental Services offers resources and programs on composting for Hamilton County teachers and residents. Click on the icon above.
www.earthmachine.com markets a high quality composter with a booklet of tips on composting. Truckload sales in your area can reduce the cost of purchasing a bin from $80+ to around $25. Click on the web address above. |
Books and Other Resources
Wiggling Worms at Work by Wendy Pfeffer beautifully explains the benefits, behavior, and anatomy of worms in a way that children of all ages can understand. A wonderful read-aloud for the elementary classroom. ISBN 0-06-028448-X
Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser is good read-aloud or student shelf book for the primary classroom. ISBN 1-56294-062-7
Squirmy Worm Composters by Bobbie Kalman and Janine Schaub illustrates the related topic of vermicomposting using photographs of kids as they investigate vermicompositing at school. ISBN 0-86505-555-6
Dirt Boy by Erik Jon Slangerup tells the witty story of Fister Farnello, who hates to be clean until he has some unexpected adventures which change his mind. A light-hearted read-aloud which challenges students to make connections while using their imaginations. ISBN 0-8075-4424-8
Compost Critters by Bianca Lavies has wonderful close-up photos and text to illustrate the small consumers that can be found in any environment where matter is cycling back to soil. A good book for informal student reference. It can also be used as a read aloud (selected pages only) when students find critters and the class wants to know more. ISBN 0-525-44763-6
Re-Cycles by Michael Elsohn Ross takes readers on a visual journey to discover the life cycle of a tree, the water cycle, and the soil decomposition (compost) cycle. These three stories can be read individually or together to stress the theme of cycles. An excellent read aloud for the elementary classroom. ISBN 0-7613-1818-6
Turtle Spring by Deborah Turney Zagwyn makes a wonderful, though indirect, connection to composting. Clee's new baby brother, a new pet turtle, a compost pile, and the coming of spring weave together in a heartwarming story of new beginnings. ISBN 1-883672-53-8
A Log's Life by Wendy Pfeffer uses lyrical text and paper sculpture art images to illustrate animal interactions in the cycling of an oak tree back to soil. An excellent classroom read aloud book. ISBN 0-689808063-61
A Handful of Dirt by Raymond Bial uses vivid photographs to illustrate the beauty and complexity of the soil beneath our feet that we take for granted everyday. A great nonfiction read-aloud. ISBN 0-8027-8699-5
Worms Eat Our Garbage: Classroom Activities for a Better Environment by Mary Appelhof, Mary Frances Fenton and Barbara Loss Harris uses over 150 worm-related activities to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in children graded 3-8; integrates science, mathematics, language arts, biology, solid waste issues, ecology and the environment. ISBN 0-942256-05-0
Worms are a Class Act by Cori Kyle provides classroom activities and information related to vermicomposting. ISBN 0-9681630-0-9
Bobby Trombly is a composting
and vermicomposting consultant who offers presentations to schools and
community organizations. To schedule a consultation or presentation,
contact her at: |
