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If you want to check out the other posts related to this experiment, you can check them out here:
- Introduction: Kids Observation Ecosystem Worm Farm
- Week 1: Kids Observation Ecosystem Worm Farm – Week 1 Observation
Below is a paid link to the Kids Observation Ecosystem Worm Farm we used:
At the end of the week 1 observation post, I mentioned that the next post would take place the following weekend. Sorry, that didn’t happen. It was a fairly busy weekend outside the worm ecosystem and not much appeared to have changed in the worm ecosystem itself from the previous week, so we didn’t write about it. Even to this day, it doesn’t appear that too much has really changed but we do have a couple things to share with you.
Today we will explore some of the last set of questions we had to see if any answers would be different now that the worms have had a couple weeks to settle in more. I also have a few new questions to ask the kids since we have completed three whole weeks observing this observation ecosystem.
Worms are a very interesting part of our ecosystem and they serve a very important part in all of our lives. If you have any questions yourself, please feel free to put them in the comments at the bottom of this post. We would love to answer any questions you have regarding this system or the worms themselves, no matter if the questions are from you or your kids. This is an experiment that we are sharing with you and I would like all of us to learn more about these underground dwellers. Besides, you may have a question or two that I have not yet thought of myself, so please ask away.
Below are the questions I have asked the kids today, along with their direct answers:
- Question: Does there appear to be more tunnels than a couple weeks ago? Describe them.
- Answer: Yes, there is more tunnels. They all look the same as before, just more of them.
- Question: Do you think the tunnels serve a purpose in this ecosystem?
- Answer: Yes, they help the plants and the soil. The tunnels provide a path for the roots and provide air.
- Question: Is the green sand moving more throughout the ecosystem? If so, is it a lot?
- Answer: Yes, the sand has been moving up and some going down deeper.
- Question: Did the worms eat the rabbit poop? Does it appear they liked it?
- Answer: Yes. But at the beginning they didn’t find it. About two days later, they found it. They loved it.
- Question: Did you put in any other kind of food this past week? If so, have they started eating that food? What was it?
- Answer: Yes, a strawberry top. Yes, it looks like they have started eating it.
- Question: What food appears to be their favorite so far? Can you tell yet?
- Answer: I can’t tell yet. Sorry.
- Question: Is the grass still growing? Is it healthy? Describe it.
- Answer: Yes, the grass is still growing and it is getting very high. It is really bright green and getting bent a bit because it is so high. The grass is soft.
- Question: Have the grass roots gotten any bigger or deeper? Describe them.
- Answer: The roots are still small but they got a little deeper.
- Question: Have you added any water yet?
- Answer: I added some what a few days ago because it was dry.
- Question: How many worms do you think are in there? Do you think that is more or less than the previous post we wrote?
- Answer: I think there are ten in there. I think there are more in there now than the previous post. (Dad thinks there are only four or five in there and maybe the same number as before).
- Question: Are there any smells in the ecosystem? Are they good or bad smells?
- Answer: It smells like grass and soil. I think I smell worm manure. (Dad thinks not). They are good smells because they aren’t that stinky.
- Question: Do you think anything will look much different next week?
- Answer: Yes, I think the grass will be bigger, the smells are different, and there will be more worms holes.
- Question: Do you see any worm castings yet? This is the worm poop. They are dark brown or nearly black in color. Is there a lot?
- Answer: I see some, just not a lot.
- Question: Is there anything you want to try with the worms this next week?
- Answer: We will try some watermelon after the strawberry is gone.
- Question: Is this ecosystem fun, or is it boring? What would make it more interesting?
- Answer: It is fun, very very fun. I don’t know what will make it more interesting.
- Question: Is there anything else you would like to add to describe what you have been seeing these last couple weeks?
- Answer: I have seen more worm holes and the grass getting taller and the food getting gone. The worms are growing more bigger.
Here is a gallery of today’s observations:
In the photos above, you may see more tunnels, the grass is taller, and the piece of strawberry top we added. You might even be able to see a couple spots of worm castings in the upper portion of the ecosystem. Unfortunately at the time of this photo shoot, the worms got shy and hid from view. The few times I tried to take a picture of them at the food, they wiggle off and hide from me. They really do not like the light.
In one of the questions above, I asked the kids about worm castings. I will briefly explain this…worm castings are the worm poop, also known as the “Black Gold”. This is the material that we collect, or harvest, from our worm bins and add to our gardens or potted plants. This is the stuff that has many benefits for our soils and is probably one of the best things you could add to your plants. I will put together a more detailed article on this at a later date.
It seems that the worms are a bit slow in this observation ecosystem, but that is most likely because there are very few worms in there. They are still showing us what they do and it has been a good observation tool for the kids. We will continue observing these little guys and maybe change things up in the upcoming weeks to make things more interesting.
Here are a couple things that I might do differently with the kids and this ecosystem in later weeks are:
- Maybe we need more worms in this ecosystem? I might steal a couple worms from my bins and put them in here to see what happens. Maybe they will process the food faster and make things a little more interesting for everyone.
- I might see if I can find a cocoon from one of my bins. This could be interesting if we could put it in a spot where we can see if or when it hatches. Wouldn’t that be fun? I think the kids would really enjoy that.
- I don’t think there are enough worms in this ecosystem right now to allow them to expand their families. You can see a couple worms mating in this post. With a small system like the one we are experimenting with here, there is probably a slight chance we will see this happening unless more worms are added and they are happy. But it could be worth adding more worms to try this out. My goal would be to get the worm count up and make it more interesting for all of us.
That is all for today. Keep an eye out for the next post for an update on this experiment. Because I do not want to disappoint you, I am not going to say when this time, but it should be within the next week or two. Hopefully we will be able to share more interesting changes to this system. All updates are listed at the top of this article if you would like to go check them out again, or to get caught up if this is the first time you have been here.
Again, if you have any questions you would like to ask the kids or myself, please feel free to add them to the comments below and I will be sure to include them in the following posts. We are all here to learn together.
Until next time!