Essential Questions
This unit was designed to be inquiry and project-based. I have created these essential questions in order to guide the development of the curriculum. A goal for the unit was to have the students critically and thoughtfully consider how humans view and relate to the smallest of creatures. I wanted my students to engage in discussions related to this topic that were both meaningful and developmentally appropriate.
- What is our responsibility to other living creatures?
- How do the needs of earthworms compare to the needs of humans?
- Why are earthworms important to the Earth? What would happen to the Earth if earthworms disappeared?
- How can we be good citizens in our school community?
Ecojustice Concepts
Stewardship: the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving. (Dictionary.com)
This unit emphasizes stewardship in that we all have a responsibility to protect and care for the living creatures of this Earth. Over the course of this unit, we will engage in an inquiry-based project to compile a compost pile for the school or community garden. Students will develop a sense of stewardship to the worms and compost pile in order to keep it healthy and the worms happy.
Interconnectedness: the quality or condition of being interconnected; interrelatedness. (Dictionary.com)
This unit explores the interconnectedness of living creatures and Earth systems, particularly how worms and humans are connected. Worms are vital to keeping the Earth healthy, yet humans often forget just how important worms are to the health of the planet. I want my students to understand that all living things are connected and that each play a part in the web of life.
Happiness: the quality or state of being happy. (Dictionary.com)
This unit looks at happiness from the perspective of a worm. Students will engage in dialogue about what worms need to have full and satisfying lives. Students will explore how the needs of worms are not so different from the needs that humans fulfill in order to be happy themselves.
This unit emphasizes stewardship in that we all have a responsibility to protect and care for the living creatures of this Earth. Over the course of this unit, we will engage in an inquiry-based project to compile a compost pile for the school or community garden. Students will develop a sense of stewardship to the worms and compost pile in order to keep it healthy and the worms happy.
Interconnectedness: the quality or condition of being interconnected; interrelatedness. (Dictionary.com)
This unit explores the interconnectedness of living creatures and Earth systems, particularly how worms and humans are connected. Worms are vital to keeping the Earth healthy, yet humans often forget just how important worms are to the health of the planet. I want my students to understand that all living things are connected and that each play a part in the web of life.
Happiness: the quality or state of being happy. (Dictionary.com)
This unit looks at happiness from the perspective of a worm. Students will engage in dialogue about what worms need to have full and satisfying lives. Students will explore how the needs of worms are not so different from the needs that humans fulfill in order to be happy themselves.