Background Research
An incredible diversity of organisms make up the soil food web. They range in size from the tiniest one-celled bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa, to the more complex nematodes, and micro-arthropods, to the visible earthworms, insects, small vertebrates, and plants.
Click on the image to visit the website of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServiceSoils Read through the information and make some background notes. Reference:
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Remember to include references
Research Task 1 Explain how to consider the needs and care of the earthworms in a portable worm farm
“Earthworms are the intestines of the soil" "Γαιοσκώληκες είναι τα έντερα του εδάφους" Aristotle about 330 BC
Due by Monday 27 February
Research Task 1
Describe the needs and care of the earthworms in a portable worm farm in terms of optimum light, air, food, moisture, temperature, habitat, and population size and hygiene. Explain how these needs will fit the criteria for the portable worm farm.
Research Task 1
Describe the needs and care of the earthworms in a portable worm farm in terms of optimum light, air, food, moisture, temperature, habitat, and population size and hygiene. Explain how these needs will fit the criteria for the portable worm farm.
Remember to include references
Research Task 1 Portfolio Worksheet
Research Task 2 The structure of a typical working worm farm
Due by Wednesday 1 March
- Describe the structure of an existing working worm farm. Consider the “built” parts, the abiotic parts and the biotic parts.
- Describe the feature of the built part, including the material, the method of collection of “worm juice”.
- Use a binocular microscope competently.
- Describe, with biological drawings, the classification and anatomy of earthworms.
- Describe, with drawings, the worm castings and the “worm juice”.
Separating Living from non-living material in the worm farm
How do the worms (Red Annelids) convert food scraps into worm castings?
What are worm castings? What are worm castings used for? How can worms be separated from worm castings? |
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Use the Binocular Microscopes to observe a Worm;
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Use the Binocular Microscopes to observe the WORM CASTINGS;
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Research Annelid worms;
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Research the worm castings and "juice";
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Remember to include references
Research Task 2 Portfolio Worksheet
Annelid Earthworm Morphology |
Annelid Earthworm Anatomy |
Research Task 2B Analysing the Worm Castings
Research Task 3 Explain how earthworms recycle nutrients in the soil ecosystem
Due by Friday 3 March
Design and build an InfoGraphic to explain how Annelid worms contribute to the cycling of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen and water.
1. Draw an InfoGraphic to show;
Design and build an InfoGraphic to explain how Annelid worms contribute to the cycling of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen and water.
1. Draw an InfoGraphic to show;
- the function of carbon, nitrogen and water within organisms
- how carbon is recycled between the environment and living things,
- how nitrogen is recycled between the environment and living things and
- how water is recycled between the environment and living things,
Research Task 3 Portfolio Worksheet
Research Task 4 Design a Science Investigation for a group of students using your worm farm.
Due by Monday 6 March
- Design a research question based on the design of portable worm farm.
- Describe how students could investigate independent variables, for example, amount of light, air, food, moisture, temperature, and population size. Remember that a variable should be a quantity that can be measured in specific units.
- Describe a dependent variable that students could measure. This should be a measure of efficiency of recycling of nutrients by the worms.
Remember to include references
In-Class Assessment Task Design of a Portable Worm Farm
On Wednesday 8 March
Submit a scale drawing of a portable worm farm.
Annotate the scale drawing so that another person could follow and build your design. Note that groups of students could use your portable worm farm to investigate variables that affect the worms and their ability to recycle nutrients. Consider what these variables could be and include specific features in your design so that students could investigate these variables.
During class and individually, use your scale drawing and your expertise from your research to
Submit a scale drawing of a portable worm farm.
Annotate the scale drawing so that another person could follow and build your design. Note that groups of students could use your portable worm farm to investigate variables that affect the worms and their ability to recycle nutrients. Consider what these variables could be and include specific features in your design so that students could investigate these variables.
During class and individually, use your scale drawing and your expertise from your research to
- Explain why each element of the design was chosen.
- Outline a Science Investigation that could be done using your portable worm farm.