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How to Make an Earthworm Box for the Classroom

An earthworm box is a bin that houses earthworms and enables students to observe their behavior and witness the decomposition process. Earthworms are an important part of the decomposition cycle and can be used to get rid of food waste in the classroom. They will provide children with important lessons about environmentally friendly living, decomposition and the contents of the soil. Once your classroom makes an earthworm box, it will be largely self-sustaining.

Things You'll Need

Drill
Drill bits size 60 to 80
Dark plastic bin
Clear plastic lid
Newspaper
Dirt
Worms

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a dark bin of an appropriate size for your classroom, and buy a clear lid to fit on top. There is no correct size for an earthworm bin, but smaller bins will be easier to maintain. As a general rule, the smallest appropriate size is 6 inches high by 6 inches wide. You can find these bins at discount retailers as well as at home supply stores.
- 2
  Drill holes for ventilation and drainage into the bottom and sides of bin. Drill bits ranging from size 60 to 80 will produce appropriately sized holes. The holes should be evenly spaced and approximately one inch apart. The number of holes you drill will depend on the size of the bin. The bottom holes should cover the entire bottom of the bin, while the side holes should be near the top of the bin and should form a line of holes wrapping completely around the bin.
- 3
  Shred newspaper into strips that are 1/2-inch to 1-inch wide. This will be the bedding in the bin. Worms like a moist, humid environment, so soak the newspaper in water. Wring out the newspaper to drain excess water.
- 4
  Cover the bottom of the bin with the newspaper. The newspaper bedding should be five to six inches thick, regardless of the size of your bin. Larger bins will simply allow more space for composting.
- 5
  Add a few scoopfuls of dirt. Dirt helps worms digest their food and will also aid in the process of decomposition for the food. Either potting soil or dirt dug up from outside will work fine for this purpose. You don't need to measure the dirt precisely. The goal is to have a small amount of dirt on top of the newspaper.
- 6
  Place the worms in the bin. Use a quarter pound of worms for every two square feet of space in the bin. Redworms are readily available at many pet stores, and garden supply shops also frequently sell worms. Though it's possible to catch worms outside, these worms may be less likely to survive in captivity.
- 7
  Place a piece of cardboard into the top of the bin. Cardboard quickly decomposes and will help to create an ideal environment for the worms.
- 8
  Cover the bin with the clear lid. Clear lids allow students to see the worms and decomposition process without interfering with the darkness necessary for decomposition at the bottom of the bin. Place the bin in a well-ventilated area that is unlikely to overheat. Windows are not a good location because sunlight can quickly increase the temperature inside the bin, which will kill the worms.

Animals & Science