WORMS
What do worms eat that helps recycle nutrients into the soil?
Dead plants and organic matter.
What do we call the top layer of soil where most plants grow?
Topsoil or the A Horizon.
What natural process breaks down dead plants and food waste into soil?
Decomposition.
What tiny organisms help break down organic matter in the soil?
Bacteria.
What two ingredients make up the basic oobleck mixture?
Cornstarch and water.
True or False: Worms have eyes
False.
What gives healthy soil its dark color?
Organic matter or humus.
Name one decomposer that helps make compost.
Worms, fungi, or bacteria.
True or False: Most microbes in soil are harmful.
False
Is oobleck a solid, a liquid, or something in between?
Something in between — a non-Newtonian fluid.
How do worms breathe if they don’t have lungs?
Through their skin.
What is the process of soil being worn away by wind or water called?
Erosion
What type of material should not be added to compost because it attracts pests?
Meat or dairy.
What do fungi in soil do that helps plants grow?
Break down tough materials like wood and share nutrients with roots.
What happens to oobleck when you apply force or squeeze it?
It behaves like a solid (it hardens under pressure).
What is the name for the rich fertilizer that comes from worm waste?
Castings.
Name one way soil helps support life on Earth.
Provides nutrients for plants, filters water, or supports roots.
What gas is released when organic material decomposes?
Carbon dioxide.
What is the white, thread-like structure of fungi found in soil and compost called?
Mycelium
What scientific property makes slime stretchy?
Polymers — long, flexible chains of molecules.
About how many hearts does an earthworm have?
Five
How many main soil horizons (layers) are typically found in a soil profile?
Four (O, A, B, and C horizons).
What is the ideal mix of “greens” (wet materials) to “browns” (dry materials) in compost?
About 1 part greens to 3 parts browns.
What is one way microbes help plants in the soil ecosystem?
They recycle nutrients, protect roots from disease, or fix nitrogen.
How is making slime or oobleck similar to what scientists do when studying soil or decomposition?
Both involve observing material properties, chemical reactions, and how substances change under different conditions.