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  Jackie Applin is a third grade teacher at Newberry Elementary School in Newberry, MI, and was awarded the 1995 Ameritech Michigan Teacher Excellence Award for her use of the Internet to support projects in her classroom.

• Worm Bin Project
    Students will learn about decomposition and the life cycle by creating worm bins. Through direct observation, they will develop an understanding of the effects different organisms, including humans, have on one another.
  1. Lesson One: Introduction to the Worm Bin Project. Students create worm bins and begin worm bin activity.

  2. Lesson Two: Collaboration Online. Students organize into small, collaborative groups and match up with partner groups at another school. Collaborative groups of students collect and exchange data and observations related to the worm bins with their partner group.

  3. Lesson Three: Growing Plants with Worm Castings. Students test worm castings for content using a soil testing kit or through a 4-H extension office. Students use the worm castings to plant seeds, hypothesizing which castings will best sustain plant growth and why.

  4. Lesson Four: Decomposition, Soil, and Life Cycle Research. Students conduct background research on the decomposition process, soil composition, and the life cycle using the resources provided here and directed Internet searches.

  5. Lesson Five: Presentation of Findings. Students compile and format their findings from the worm bins, the plant activity, and from their Internet research into "scrapbooks."

  Related Resources lists some of Jackie's favorite sites.

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