Background Information
See the background information in the previous section “The Effect of Worms on Plant Growth”
Project Overview
The students will make and maintain a worm farm in quart size glass jars. Up to twenty worms can be placed in a quart jar. Since these worms will be used in the experiment to see if worms have an effect on the growth of plants, have the students place 15 worms in each jar. In order to see the worm burrows, they will cover the jar with black construction paper. The students will feed the earthworms oatmeal throughout this experiment. They will place the jar of worms with the bean seed plants after they have germinated.
Materials
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Quart size glass jars
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Soil
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Worms
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Hammer
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Large nails
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Black construction paper
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Uncooked oatmeal
Procedures
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Place two inches of moist soil into the glass jar.
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Sprinkle about a teaspoon of oatmeal on top of the soil.
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Add one inch of moist sand on top of the oatmeal.
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Repeat steps one and three until there is about two inches of open space remaining in the jar.
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Set this aside, and nail several holes in the lid of the jar.
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Place the fifteen worms in the jar and screw the lid onto the jar.
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Cover the outside of the jar with black construction paper.
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Place the worm farm in a dark, cool place away from direct sunlight.
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After one week, remove the black paper from around the jar. You will be able to see some worm burrows against the sides of the jar.
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Sprinkle about one teaspoon of oatmeal on top of the worm farm and return the farm to it station until ready to mix in with the bean plants.
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Feed the worms weekly.