The Worm

by Ralph Bergengren

When the earth is turned in spring

The worms are fat as anything.

And birds come flying all around

To eat the worms right off the ground.

They like worms just as much as I

Like bread and milk and apple pie.

And once, when I was very young,

I put a worm right on my tongue.

I didn't like the taste a bit,

And so I didn't swallow it.

But oh, it makes my Mother squirm

Because she thinks I ate that worm!

"Although not generally considered attrative, for two reasons the earthworm has an important place in nature-study:  it furnishes an interesting example of lowly organized creatures, and it is of great economic importance to the agriculturist.  The lesson should have special reference to the work done by earthworms and to the simplicity of the tools with which the work is done."

~ Handbook of Nature Study, pg. 422

After days of rain, earthworms are abundantly available.   So yesterday we did a little earthworm observation and experimentation.

First, of course, we collected a few very friendly earthworms who were more than willing to help us with our studies!  We laid them on a moistened paper towel, then observed them for a few moments under a magnifying lens.

The kids thought it was really cool the way they move.  Have you ever really watched an earthworm move?

"An earthworm has a peculiar, crawling movement.  Unlike the snake, which also moves without legs; but it has a very special provision for locomotion."

~Handbook of Nature Study, pg. 423

Next, we got an ice cube and lightly touched the earthworms with it and found out they are very sensitive to cold (well at least two of them were).  They immediately jerked around.

"This is because each segment of an earthworm's body has at least one pair of nerve endings that are very sensitive to cold."

~Nature in a Nutshell for Kids, pg. 12

We grabbed two more moistened paper towels and covered them up with them.  We noticed that they got really still and didn't move an inch.  When we removed the paper towels, they immediately started to move about again.

"They avoid direct sunlight, but have no eyes.  Instead, they have a pair of spots that are sensitive to light."

~Nature in a Nutshell for Kids, pg. 12

Next, we collected a nice-sized mound of soil and put it on the paper towel, and then placed the worms on top of it.  At least two of them eventually started working there way down into the soil.  They were a bit slow about it though.

"The earthworm is, among lower animals, essentially the farmer.  Long before men conceived the idea of tiling the soil, this seemingly insignificant creature was busily at work plowing, harrowing, and fertilizing the land."

~Handbook of Nature Study, pg. 422

Lastly something we observed ourselves, was to take a flashlight and hold the earthworm up in the air while shining the light on it, you could see it's inside parts pretty clearly, especially on the underside.  Cool!

This observation experiment came from one of my newest favorite nature experiment books:

Nature in a Nutshell

- Over 100 Activities you can do in Ten Minutes for Less

by Jean Potter

I also found this Diagram of an Earthworm to be helpful!