1) Worms live in the soil.
1) Worms live in the soil.
Alex Fieldhouse/Alamy Stock Photo
a worm in the soil
They are usually under the ground. They make tunnels through the soil where it is cool and moist. When something is moist, it is a little bit wet.
They are usually under the ground. They make tunnels. The soil is cool. It is moist. When something is moist, it is a little bit wet.
2) Some people keep and care for worms.
2) Some people keep and care for worms.
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Worms don’t live only in nature. People also care for worms at home. They put worms in a big bin. They make sure the temperature is just right. They make sure the soil is not too wet or too dry. They feed the worms. What do the worms eat?
Worms don’t live only in nature. People also keep worms at home. They put worms in a big bin. They make sure it is not too hot or too cold. They make sure the soil is not too wet or too dry. They feed the worms. What do the worms eat?
3) Worms eat almost anything.
3) Worms eat almost anything.
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Worms aren’t super picky. People feed them table scraps and some kinds of trash. Worms eat fruits and vegetables, even their peels. They eat eggs and eggshells. They eat bread, pasta, and meat. They eat paper and old hair. Go, worms!
People feed them table scraps. They feed them some kinds of trash. Worms eat fruits and vegetables. They even eat the peels. They eat eggs and eggshells. They eat bread and pasta. They eat meat. They even eat paper and old hair. Go, worms!
4) Worm poop is worm-derful.
4) Worm poop is worm-derful.
Darrell Gulin/Getty Images (Plants); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)
worm casting
When people raise worms, they don’t have to throw out their old food. The worms can eat it! That is good for the planet. It means less wasted food.
But there is another reason people raise worms. All that food passes through worms and turns into poop. Piles of worm poop are called castings.
The castings are great for gardens. They have nutrients in them. Nutrients are like vitamins for the soil. They help plants grow.
People don’t have to throw out their old food when they care for worms. The worms eat it! That is good for the planet. All the food worms eat passes through them. It turns into poop. Piles of worm poop are called castings.
The castings are great for gardens. They have nutrients in them. Nutrients are like vitamins for the soil. They help plants grow.
About the Article
Science Focus
Worms
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
The big question of this issue of Storyworks 2 is: What makes something gross?
BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
This article gives kids background knowledge that will help them better understand this issue’s fiction, “House of Worms."
1. BEFORE READING
Show “The Big Question” Video (10 minutes)
Watch “The Big Question: What Makes Something Gross?” (This video also goes with other stories in this month’s Storyworks 2.)
2. READ THE ARTICLE (10 MINUTES)
3. AFTER READING (3 MINUTES)
ELA Focus: Quiz (10 minutes)
ELA Focus: Write Key Details to Nosey at nosey@scholastic.com (20 minutes)
Show “Nature’s Tiny Gardeners” Video
Enrich the Learning: Paired Text Opportunities (15 minutes)
Scavenger Hunt Slide Deck (20 minutes)
