Measuring Worms

          
At a table beside our worm composter we used fake worms to learn about
                                    measuring.
         
I used an old Scrabble tile holder as the measuring stick.  Marks were drawn
                  on the stick counting in centimeters.
    
The children placed a worm on the measuring stick then started at one end
    counting how many marks till they got to the end of the stick.
    
     After measuring I noticed that this child sorted them by size.

More Worm Play

   
              Fake worms, sticks and stones and coffee grounds.
       
Plus slime made from the Borax recipe.I added brown paint to get the colour.
                   
         
              

Tubes, Tunnels and Mazes

Last week I brought in PVC pipes and connectors with magnets attached
                    to the backs of the connectors.
                    
The idea is that the tubes would be tunnels for the big pipe cleaner
                         worms that were included.
 
I set it on the floor beside our worm composter but either the
    children didn't notice it or they weren’t that interested.

Only a couple of children attempted to put them together
                   during the whole week.

                 
This week I moved the metal board and tunnels to the sensory table
         and switched the pipe cleaners to marbles.
 
             
The children were instantly attracted and tried a variety of combinations
           of the tubes and connectors to make a maze.
        
The toddlers were also fascinated with the marbles and when they can drop
                  them into something it is even better.
     
I wasn’t sure if she knew what happened to the marbles after she dropped
them in.  We had her look into the tube, which she was happy to do but wasn’t
interested in the other end.  She was interested in dropping one marble at a time,
again and again and again.

Feeding our Worms

“Environmental chefs

here’s a recipe for you’'

to fix from scratch

to mix a batch

of Compost Stew”.

That is the main stanza in the book “Compost Stew” by Mary McKenna Siddals.  We read it at story time this morning then we made our own compost stew.
                              
We started with our compost bucket that sat over the weekend.  It had banana peels, egg shells, coffee grounds and a few tomatoes from this morning.
                 
              The children took turns stirring it and crushing the egg shells.
                 
                    Then we added it to our worm composter.
              
Covered it with paper again and sprayed it with water till it was good and moist.   We’ll check tomorrow to see if the worms have been working through their meal.

Worms, Worms, Worms

The day after we added fake worms to the sandbox I received an email saying that worms were waiting in the fridge at school.
          
I had reserved a worm composter kit from our district resource centre and thought it was coming at the end of April not now.  I’ve never done used one before and started reading the instructions. 
 
When I read that the composter need to be ready before your worms arrived made me panic a bit.  But with a willing helper we followed the steps and got it ready.

Compost, pumice, coir (soaked so it expands), shredded newspaper and food waste makes the bedding for our worms.  We dumped it into the tray and spread it around.
       

Now the fun part, opening the tub of worms.  They are red wigglers which are great for composting.  The question arose why not use the worms we find outside?  I found this answer on Red Worm Composting site; 
“I learned that most of my yard worms were of the “anecic” type – that is to say they were soil dwelling worms that create burrows and tend to lead a somewhat solitary existence (they need their space). The worms ideally suited for composting on the other hand are referred to as “epigeic”. This group tends to live in rich organic material (not soil), and are adapted to crowding and warmer temperatures.”
I commented to a parent that I learn so much at StrongStart.

            
       Opening the tub of worms drew a lot more children to the table.
Can we touch?  Definitely.
 
          Magnifying glasses helped us get a closer look.
       
Using one of the books provided in our kit we were able to learn which end
                                has the mouth.

       
The next job was to pick all the worms out of the material that they arrived in.  It was difficult, there were so many worms.  Even little white ones that we thought were young worms but I have since found out are a different type of worm.
       
Because it was taking too long for us to pick them out we transferred it all.
  
  The worms immediately wiggled under the bedding to where it was dark.

One last thing was to place newspaper on top and moisten it.
       
We’ll check our worms everyday to see that it stays moist and feed them when we notice that the food we have already added is being processed. 

                  What an adventure!  I hope they survive.

If you have had a worm composter before and have any suggestions please share them.

Sandbox Continued

               
The corn plants didn’t last past the first hour this morning.  But as I watched I learned that one child was digging to look for worms.  Luckily I had some fake worms in the storage room.
                
Adding the worms allowed me to learn more about the little boy.  He is shy with me, not much eye contact and no talking.  As I brought the worms out his mom explains that he loves worms and shared a few stories.  When I handed him a water bottle I received a big smile.  Then I heard him sharing ‘words’ with his mom as he enjoyed the play.
        
  Other children joined in, collecting worms and spraying the sand.
                
I have a surprise for tomorrow morning.  I received a message this afternoon that our worm composter has arrived and that there is a bucket of worms waiting in the fridge for us.  Can’t wait to open the bucket with the families.