Activity Synopsis
Students will conduct an experiment in which they observe:

1. the rate of decomposition of different organic and inorganic materials 
2. the effect that worms have on the rate of decomposition of these materials and on soil quality 

Time Frame
The initial set-up of the experiment will take approximately three one-hour periods. Less time will be required if worm "recycling centers" are constructed prior to first class session. You may want to consider constructing worm recycling centers outdoors to reduce clean-up. Worm recycling centers should be observed once a week for one month. Observations should be recorded. Each observation recording session will take approximately twenty minutes.

Student Key Terms

• community
• decomposer
• population

• carnivore
• consumer
• decomposer
• ecosystem  
• food chain
• food web
• herbivore
• niche  
• omnivore
• photosynthesis
• population  
• producer