Introduce Yourself to a Worm

Introduce Yourself to a Worm

Science Process Skills

observing

communicating

categorizing

ordering

applying

Materials
Per Participant:

clear plastic tumbler

pencil

a worm

writing paper

For Entire Group:

hand lenses (optional)

honey

Doing the Activity

Have the participants tell what they know (have observed) about worms physically and behaviorally, and what they don't know (haven't observed) about worms.

Tell the participants that they are going to spend some time observing worms. Begin by explaining to the participants that the worms are their guests today, and that they are not to be damaged, teased or killed. The worms are to be treated with respect.

Give each participant a worm, a plastic tumbler, a pencil and some writing paper. Optional: Have hand lenses available for the participants to get a closer look at their worm.

Give the participants 5-10 minutes to observe their worm, and record at least six things they have observed about their worm. They must use at least four senses (sight, hearing, touch, and smell)

Suggestions for sensory observations:

Put your worm in the plastic tumbler. Watch it from many angles as it moves. What do you see? What does the worm leave behind on the glass?

Look closely at the worm through a hand lens. What colors and/or designs do you see? Write a description of how your worm moves.

Hold the worm in your hand. How does it feel? Is the worm warm or cool? Wet or dry? Heavy or light? Does the worm's body feel rough or smooth?

Put some honey on a finger and present it to the worm. What does the worm do? How does it feel?

Listen to the worm. Does it make sounds? When does it make sounds? When is it silent? What kinds of sounds does it make?

Smell a worm. Does it have an odor?

When given a choice, does your worm crawl up, down, left, right?

Reflecting

Share what you observed with a partner. Did your partner observe the same things? How are your worms alike? How are your worms different?

Look at your list of observation words. List to which sense (see, hear, smell, feel) each word applies.

Applying

How could you do this same activity with another animal? What animal would be a good one to observe? What is something that you could observe using your sense of taste?

What's Happening

According to Nobel prize winning physicist Richard P. Feynman, "Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts." For Feynman, science was learning more about the world than the experts knew. It is in this spirit of inquiry and evidence that we begin to investigate the world of worms using observation, communication, application, ordering, and categorization skills.

More Challenges

How could you make money with worms?

What data could you collect about worms that would help you solve a problem?

Write a story about worms.

Find a new worm. Does it look the same or different?

Investigate the favorite foods of worms.

Activity Source

Ponzio, Richard. (1991) "4-H SERIES/Y.E.S." Cooperative Extension, 4-H Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

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	Introduce Yourself to a Worm
	Science Process Skills observing communicating categorizing ordering applying
	Materials Per Participant: clear plastic tumbler pencil a worm writing paper For Entire Group: hand lenses (optional) honey
	Doing the Activity Have the participants tell what they know (have observed) about worms physically and behaviorally, and what they don't know (haven't observed) about worms. Tell the participants that they are going to spend some time observing worms. Begin by explaining to the participants that the worms are their guests today, and that they are not to be damaged, teased or killed. The worms are to be treated with respect. Give each participant a worm, a plastic tumbler, a pencil and some writing paper. Optional: Have hand lenses available for the participants to get a closer look at their worm. Give the participants 5-10 minutes to observe their worm, and record at least six things they have observed about their worm. They must use at least four senses (sight, hearing, touch, and smell) Suggestions for sensory observations: Put your worm in the plastic tumbler. Watch it from many angles as it moves. What do you see? What does the worm leave behind on the glass? Look closely at the worm through a hand lens. What colors and/or designs do you see? Write a description of how your worm moves. Hold the worm in your hand. How does it feel? Is the worm warm or cool? Wet or dry? Heavy or light? Does the worm's body feel rough or smooth? Put some honey on a finger and present it to the worm. What does the worm do? How does it feel? Listen to the worm. Does it make sounds? When does it make sounds? When is it silent? What kinds of sounds does it make? Smell a worm. Does it have an odor? When given a choice, does your worm crawl up, down, left, right?
	Reflecting Share what you observed with a partner. Did your partner observe the same things? How are your worms alike? How are your worms different? Look at your list of observation words. List to which sense (see, hear, smell, feel) each word applies.
	Applying How could you do this same activity with another animal? What animal would be a good one to observe? What is something that you could observe using your sense of taste?
	What's Happening According to Nobel prize winning physicist Richard P. Feynman, "Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts." For Feynman, science was learning more about the world than the experts knew. It is in this spirit of inquiry and evidence that we begin to investigate the world of worms using observation, communication, application, ordering, and categorization skills.
	More Challenges How could you make money with worms? What data could you collect about worms that would help you solve a problem? Write a story about worms. Find a new worm. Does it look the same or different? Investigate the favorite foods of worms.
	Activity Source Ponzio, Richard. (1991) "4-H SERIES/Y.E.S." Cooperative Extension, 4-H Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.