The Compost Worms

By Nicole Groteguth
4th Grade, Stanislaus County
Gratton Elementary School - Pennie Segna, Teacher

"Stella, school today!" Momma worm said.

"I'm not ready today, Mom," Stella worm said. "Please give me, umm, how about ten hours."

"No," said Momma worm, "because this is your first day of school."

Stella had a great day at school. When she came home from school she asked her mom what they were having for dinner.

"We're going to have lettuce, banana peels, and pieces of the Earth Worm Times," said Momma worm.

"What? I thought we finished that last night!" said Stella worm.

"No honey, remember your brother left some in the dirt pile," said Momma worm.

The next morning, Momma worm called out, "It's breakfast time!"

"OK, I'm coming," Stella worm answered back. "What's for breakfast?"

"We are going to have lettuce, rotting apples, and don't forget banana peels, because that is just the right kinds of food worms love to eat." Momma worm told Stella that the food goes in the bloodstream and it is very good for worms.

Ten minutes later. "Bye Mom, I'll see you soon," said Stella worm.

At school the teacher told the class, "Today class, we are going to do fractions. Come gather around my desk and I will take a bite out of this half-eaten apple. Who can tell me how much is left?" The students all laughed as they watched. School was fun.

The teacher taught the worms all about their purpose on Earth. Worms help cultivate the soil by fertilizing and keeping it healthy for plants to survive. She mentioned that worms have been helping the Earth and plants for thousands of years.

Soon the teacher yelled, "Lunch time!"

"Uh oh," cried Stella, "I already finished my lunch during snack time!" Stella began eating her math book because she was still very hungry. The teacher walked by and noticed her. The teacher made her write, "I will not eat my math book."

Later at school, Stella found a friend named Penny worm. They had a sleepover that night at Penny's house. They dug day and night in the garden for fun. The worms also learned at school that this allows the plants to get air from the holes.

The two worms decided to have a picnic in the garden. They cleaned up the area by eating dead, old leaves. It soon became too sunny there so they decided to go to a shady park. They found that there were too many people at the park. They became afraid they would get stepped on. Then it began to rain. They quickly hid under a leaf because if they went down into a hole they could drown.

All these explorations made Stella worm and Penny worm very thirsty. So they drank some mud juice. Water is important because it helps worms make mucus that allows them not to dry out.

Penny remembered something she learned in school. "Stella, did you know that we have a very tiny brain?" stated Penny.

Stella cried "Nooo!"

Penny reassured Stella that they had enough brain power to control their bodies.

Then Penny said, "I'm hungry." So they ate some dirt rolls. The worms learned at school that everything they eat becomes digested and turns into rich fertile soil good for plants. They both wanted something sweet to eat. They made mud pie and ate it all. When worms eat dirt they also eat the tiny stones in the soil. The worms swallow these tiny stones along with food. The food then passes into the gizzard, which is made of strong muscles. The gizzard, with the help of the tiny stones, grind the food up making it useful to the intestines.

They ate until there was nothing left. Before they went to sleep they dug a while which made them safe and very sleepy.

On their way to school the next day, they bumped into a big root because they were talking and not looking at where they were going. They weren't looking because worms don't really have eyes. So, of course they couldn't see. After school they decided to play a game called "Find your way out." The game is played by digging out of buried holes in the dirt.

Stella and Penny grew to be great worm friends. They were very proud of the way they could help the earth by cultivating the soil so plants could grow and they would be contributing to everyone's needs. They dug and they played happily ever after.