How to Make A Worm Farm Like An Ant Farm

Making a worm farm, like an ant farm, can be an exciting science experiment for young children. It isn't hard to create the right conditions to keep worms healthy, so this can be an excellent educational project for the classroom. Like in an ant farm, the worms will clear passageways in the jar, and children can observe the movements and patterns that the worms create as they explore their subterranean habitat.

Things You'll Need

• Empty glass jar (mayonnaise jars work best)
• Soil
• Worms
• Black paper
• Scotch tape

Instructions

1. Start by thoroughly cleaning an empty mayonnaise jar, or a similar-sized jar, until nothing remains of the jar's previous contents. Remove labels from the jar. Punch holes in the jar lid with a sharp object such as a knife or with a hammer and nail.

2. Add soil to the jar. You will want to fill the jar until it's thee-quarters full of soil. The soil should be slightly damp, as worms need moisture in the environment to survive. The soil will need to be watered lightly every couple of days to keep the worms healthy, but don't add too much water or the worms could drown.

3. Cover the surface of the dirt within the jar with leaves, twigs and other organic matter such as kitchen vegetable scraps. This will provide food for the worms.

4. Use clear tape to secure black paper on the outside of the jar. This will block light from the outside world from reaching the worms in the soil, and encourage the worms to dig around the perimeter of the jar.

5. Introduce three or four worms to the tank, then screw the lid back on the jar. Set the jar aside in a dark corner out of direct sunlight. This is important so it doesn't heat up and fry the worms. After a few weeks, remove the black paper and and observe the worms as they work.

References

• How to make a worm farm
• Quart jar worm farm