Here are some future ecologists, for sure!

Amy Sherwood’s fifth-grade class at PBE had a Mystery Science lesson about decomposers. They used earthworms in a two-day, hands-on experiment to see what earthworms prefer as their living environment and what they like to eat.

They first set up compost bags in the class – they are actually referred to as “mold terrariums” in Mystery Science. After seeing the food grow mold, they noticed which variables slowed down the process and which sped it up. They determined that foods with preservatives in them didn’t seem to grow mold as fast as the foods without preservatives. Makes sense!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students were also able to determine if the worms prefer wet or dry places as well as if they prefer light or dark places. The students were amazed that some worms actually burrowed into the paper towels on their plates in the short time they observed them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They learned about how worms eat dry leaves and other nutrients in the soil as well as provide fertile soil for our plants to grow. Many students enjoyed watching the worms up close and seeing how they moved. We see some serious composters here!