This lab sheet walks your student through a structured 24-hour observation of the feeding habits of earthworms, specifically testing whether they prefer fruit, carrot, leaf litter, coffee grounds, or plain oatmeal. Students write a hypothesis first, then record after-results in a table that tracks where each worm was found: on, near, or not near each food type. Three analysis questions push them to interpret patterns and connect their findings to how earthworms behave in natural soil. Designed for grades 3-6, it suits a life science or soil ecology unit study equally well.

The sheet works as a standalone one-session setup with a 24-hour wait, but it also fits naturally into a longer unit on decomposers, soil health, or invertebrate behavior. A note at the bottom of the sheet reminds students that earthworms break down organic matter and support the ecosystem, which gives you an easy bridge to a follow-up lesson on composting or the nutrient cycle. Completing the sheet shows your homeschooler can form a testable hypothesis, observe animal behavior methodically, and draw evidence-based conclusions.