The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Lesson 4: Verma Composting and Beyond - Experimenting with Energy and Food Webs

Lesson 4: Verma Composting and Beyond - Experimenting with Energy and Food Webs

A 6th grade STEM lesson

Susie Herman

2023

Notes for Teachers

• This can be a stand alone lesson or the culminating experience for students from Lesson 1, Lesson 2, and Lesson 3.

The mini unit revolves around energy and food webs.

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List of Materials

• Three Tray Worm Composter
• Styrofoam Container
• Plastic Container
• shredded paper
• dirt (if you buy worms separately)
• discarded vegetable and fruit organic material
• worms
• Yucky Worms by Vivian French
• Worms Eat my Garbage by Mary Applehof

Standards

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Standards

Science and Engineering Practices

and Portrait of a Graduate

● ask questions

● gather information from observations

● reason about information and connect it to scientific ideas

● communicate their understanding and reasoning

● solve problems creatively

● think critically

● work cooperatively in teams

● use technology

● value lifelong learning

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Life Science

6.L2U3.12

6.L2U1.13

6.L2U1.14

Physical Science

6.P1U1.1

6.P1U1.2

6.P1U1.3

6.P2U1.4

6.P4U2.5

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Construct scientific explanations of how energy from the Sun is transferred through ecosystems

Develop an understanding of forces and energy and how energy can transfer from one object to another or be converted from one form to another. They also develop an understanding of the nature of matter

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Objective(s):

Today students will combine their knowledge of energy, food webs, and ecosystems and create their own contribution to each, vermicomposting.

Agenda (60 minutes plus upkeep of container)

Read Yucky Worms by Vivian French

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Have groups of students create their own vermicomposting bin using the step by step directions.

Continue to care for your worms.

Use the worms castings to start a class garden.(extension activity)

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Phenomena

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I put rotted food into a container with earthworms, where did the food go?

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Read Yucky Worms
• Explain to the students that they will be verma composting.
• It is a fancy word for raising composting worms.
• Discuss what composting is and have students share their experiences with composting or even verma composting.
• Follow the step by step directions to set up one big bin or smaller bins for groups.

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Treehugger, sustainability for all. Dotdash Meredith. Christian Yonkers. May 15, 2023.

Assessment

Create a living vermicomposting bin and observe maintenance/progress.

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Differentiation

1. Show a video on vermicomposting so kids can see how it is done.
2. Allow students to work by themselves or with a group.
3. Some children do not like to touch the rotten food or the worms. Allow them to watch and work with a group. They will still benefit from the process.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Plant a classroom garden and use the castings to provide nutrients to the soil.

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