Teacher Information
Standards | Integration Ideas | Resources | Feedback
Welcome!
Would you like to put a twist in your lesson plan? Would your students
get excited about learning if they got to use the computer? If you
answered, “Yes!” to either of these questions, then we have the
teaching tool you’ve been looking for. It’s an animated,
interactive web site that teaches the basics of using red worms and
organic materials to make compost, also known as vermicomposting, plus
the benefits of using compost for plants and gardens. It also explains
other waste management strategies, like the 3Rs--reduce, reuse, and
recycle--and let’s students try their hand at making wise choices
about conserving resources!
While the site was developed for the third grade level, it certainly can be used with younger or older students as well. The best part (from a teacher’s perspective) might be that we correlated all the student exercises to the California Content Standards for Third Grade.
Speaking of Standards …The CIWMB knows the significance of a standards-based approach to teaching and learning. Therefore we designed each activity to offer an application to one or more of the standards. A handy table that shows every correlated standard for each activity area can be found on the Correlations to Standards page within this site. Check it out! |
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| Selected by the SciLinks program, a service of National Science Teachers Association. Copyright 1999-2002. |
Suggestions for Incorporating Vermi Into Your
Classroom Instruction
This activity can be used in conjunction with classroom lessons (maybe
lessons from Closing the Loop),
as part of school gardening activities, or as a self-contained,
computer-based experience for your students. Use it with small groups
or let students encounter it individually. It would make great use of
“computer lab” time that you might give your students. Do you
recognize Earth Day by conducting special activities or lessons? This
would make a great adjunct to Earth Day or Earth Week or even Make a
Difference Day.
- Worm Suppliers. A list of red wiggler worm suppliers in California
- Worm Bin Suppliers. A list of worm bin suppliers in California
- The Worm Guide. A great guide for the composting beginner.
- The World of Worms. More worm-related books, curriculum, audio/videotapes, activity guides, and newsletters.
- Vermicomposting Web Sites. A list developed by the IWMB.
Tell Us What You Think!
We need your feedback. Two easy-to-use feedback forms are all you need to tell us what you and your students think. The forms can be completed on-line and emailed to us--it’s a snap!
- Teacher Feedback Form
- Student Feedback (a short writing, actually typing, exercise)
Don’t forget to tell a friend about Vermi. Hope to see you back here real soon!
Office of Integrated Environmental Education http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Schools/
Contact: k12edu@ciwmb.ca.gov (916) 341-6769

