Academy Curricular Exchange
Columbia Education Center
Science

TITLE:  EARTHWORMS
AUTHOR:  Lydia Flynn, St. John's Catholic School;
         Yukon, OK

GRADE LEVEL:  Appropriate for grades 3-4.

OVERVIEW:  This activity with earthworms will show students
an organism that lives in a dark, cool, wet place and how
this organism has special body parts which enable it to live
in its environment.

OBJECTIVE(s):  Student will be able to:
1.   Describe the activities of an earthworm.
2.   Describe the body parts of the earthworm.
3.   Explain how the body parts of the earthworm enable
     it to live in soil.

MATERIALS:
Teacher Materials:  Earthworms, jars, dirt, chart paper, and
     magnifying glasses.  Earthworms can be obtained from a
     local bait shop, ordered from a biological supply
     house, or dug from the ground.
Student Materials:  Pencil and paper.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1.   Divide students into groups of three or four.
2.   Each group should be provided with several earthworms
     to hold and observe.  Students should be encouraged to
     hold earthworms and observe their many sections,
     muscles, stiff hairs, and their thick wet skin.
3.   Students should record their observations.
4.   Place dirt and worms in glass jars so that students can
     observe the movement and activities of the earthworms.

TYING IT TOGETHER:  Each group of students will prepare a
chart illustrating the body parts of the earthworm.  The
students will also record their observations of the
earthworms' activities.

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