Wiggly Worm Wonders

Intro to Worms

---

Grade Level

Kindergarten (Age 5-6)

Duration

45 minutes

Class Size

30 students

---

Lesson Description

In this lesson, students will dive into the world of worms by sharing their prior knowledge in a class brainstorming session, watching an engaging and age-appropriate video about worms, and participating in two hands-on learning centres designed to spark curiosity and exploration through play. This lesson is the first in a 10-lesson unit titled Wiggly Worm Wonders that will guide students to discover fascinating facts about worms and their role in nature.

---

Learning Goals

• Students will express what they know and wonder about worms through verbal and visual participation.
• Students will engage in sensory and pretend play activities centred around worms.
• Students will develop early scientific curiosity and vocabulary related to worms.
• Students will learn to observe and describe simple characteristics of worms.

---

California Kindergarten Science Standards Alignment

Disciplinary Core Idea: LS1.A (Structure and Function)

• Living things have parts that help them survive. (K-LS1-1)

Science and Engineering Practice: Asking Questions and Defining Problems

• Participate in shared investigations using observations and prior knowledge.

Crosscutting Concept: Patterns

• Recognising patterns in nature helps understand living things like worms.

---

Materials Needed

Item	Notes/Accommodations
Whiteboard or chart paper	Use visuals for key vocabulary
Markers	Variety of colours
Vocabulary cards (worm, soil, worm castings, wiggle, dirt, slimy)	With pictures for ELL support
Age-appropriate worm video	5-7 minutes length, animated or real worms
Sensory bins (2)	For play centres
Centre 1: Soil and plastic worms	Soil, toy worms, magnifying glasses
Centre 2: Worm craft supplies	Paper, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, glue
Observation sheets (simple drawing space)	Optional for students who want to draw their worm

---

Lesson Outline

1. Welcome & Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greet students and introduce the unit name with enthusiasm: “Wiggly Worm Wonders!”
• Briefly explain that worms are important and interesting animals that live under the soil.
• Display worm vocabulary cards on the board. Read the words aloud and show pictures to scaffold learning for ELL students.

---

2. Brainstorm: What Do We Know About Worms? (10 minutes)

• Invite students to share any ideas or questions about worms.
• Write or draw their responses on the whiteboard/chart paper. Use student language and add worm vocabulary cards next to related words to reinforce learning.
• Prompt with questions if needed:
  • “What do worms look like?”
  • “Where do worms live?”
  • “How do worms move?”
  • “Why do worms wiggle?”

---

3. Worm Video (7 minutes)

• Watch a fun, bright, and engaging video introduction to worms.
• Encourage students to watch carefully for new facts or things that surprise them.
• After the video, ask 2-3 quick questions:
  • “What did you learn about worms?”
  • “Did you see how worms move?”
  • “What do worms eat?”

---

4. Play-Based Learning Centres (20 minutes)

Divide class into two groups of 15. Rotate after 10 minutes.

Centre 1: Worm Exploration

• Provide bins with moist soil and toy/plastic worms.
• Students use magnifying glasses to observe the worms’ shapes and wiggles.
• Encourage sensory exploration: feel the texture of soil and pretend to be worms wiggle like the videos showed them.
• Support language by prompting: “Can you find the worms?” “Show me how a worm moves.”

Centre 2: Worm Crafting

• Students create a simple worm craft using pipe cleaners, paper segments, and googly eyes.
• Encourage naming their worm and describing it using vocabulary words (e.g., “My worm is long and slimy!”).
• Teachers/staff walk around and ask questions to reinforce learning.

---

5. Wrap-Up Discussion (3 minutes)

• Gather students back to the carpet or whiteboard area.
• Ask students to share one new thing they learned or what they liked best about today’s lesson.
• Celebrate curiosity and remind them they will learn more about worms in the coming lessons!

---

Differentiation & Accommodations

• Visuals and vocabulary cards support comprehension for ELL and language-delayed students.
• Pair ELL students with supportive peers during centres for language modelling.
• Use gestures, pictures, and realia (soil, worms) to scaffold understanding.
• Offer drawing options for reflection for students who prefer non-verbal expression.
• Encourage all attempts to communicate ideas with praise and positive reinforcement.

---

Assessment & Reflection

• Informal formative assessment through observation during brainstorming and centres (participation, vocabulary use, curiosity).
• Use teacher notes to plan follow-up lessons that target emerging questions or misunderstandings.
• Reflect on which play activities were most engaging and whether ELL students accessed key concepts well.

---

Extensions & Home Connection

• Send home vocabulary cards with a simple “Ask me about worms!” note encouraging families to ask their child what they learned.
• Suggest a simple nature walk scavenger hunt at home to find wriggly creatures or signs of worms in soil.
• Prepare for Lesson 2: “Worm Homes and Habitats” by bringing in a small worm habitat for observation.

---

This lesson plan integrates California’s Early Science Framework recommendations for hands-on, play-based experiences while meeting K-LS1-1 standard, ensuring young learners build foundational scientific skills and vocabulary about living organisms.