Some are so small that you can only view them under a microscope, while others, like giant tube worms living near toxic, deep sea ocean vents, can grow to be over seven feet (2.1 m) long.

MATERIALS

 10 to 20 sow bugs or pill bugs (see Protocol for finding and catching them)

SAFTEY TIPS & HINTS

— Adult supervision is required when using a utility knife to cut holes.

PROTOCOL

STEP 1: Collect sow bugs or pill bugs from under rocks and pieces of wood. These bugs are 1/4 inch (6 mm) to 1/2 inch (13 mm) long and have seven pairs of legs and a segmented body, like armor. Pill bugs are also called roly polys and can roll up into tiny balls. (Fig. 1, 2)

Fig. 1: Collect sow bugs and pill bugs.

Fig. 2: Look under rocks and pieces of wood.

STEP 2: Cut a snug-fitting piece of cardboard to divide your plastic container in half. Cut a small opening about 2 inches (5 cm) wide into the middle of the bottom of the cardboard for bugs to move through. Tape the cardboard container into place. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3: Make a bug house from a divided plastic container.

For milk cartons, cut the tops off, leaving 4 inches (10 cm) on the bottom. Cut identical holes in the side of each carton about 1/3 inch (1 cm) from the bottom. Tape the cartons together so the holes line up to form a single opening. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4: You can also make a bug house from milk cartons.

STEP 4: Place an equal number of bugs on each side of the habitat and observe them for an hour or so. Every 15 minutes, record how many bugs are on the moist side and dry side of the environment. (Fig. 5)

Fig. 5: Observe the bugs’ behavior.

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT

Try creating other microenvironments for the isopods. See what foods they prefer.

MATERIALS

 Sweep net or materials to make one: pliers; two wire hangers; scissors; an old, light-colored pillowcase; duct tape; and long wooden broomstick or sturdy yardstick

SAFTEY TIPS & HINTS

— Don’t pick up insects with your bare hands unless you know they don’t bite or sting.

PROTOCOL

STEP 1: If you don’t have a sweep net, make one by using pliers to straighten two wire hangers and twist them together. Form them into a loop, leaving about 3 inches (7.5 cm) straight on either end. Cut about one third off of the open end of a pillowcase and pull the mouth of the pillowcase over the wire loop, leaving the 3-inch (7.5 cm) extension bare. Tape it securely around the perimeter. To complete the net, tape the straight part of the hangers onto the end of a broomstick or yardstick. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1: Make a sweep net from wire hangers and a pillowcase.

STEP 2: Find an area with long grass and plants, such as a meadow or field. Sweep with your net the same way you’d sweep a floor, but flip the open side of the net back and forth to capture insects in the grass. (Fig. 2, 3)

Fig. 2: Get ready to sweep.

Fig. 3: Sweep the grass and plants to catch invertebrates.

STEP 4: Carefully release the creatures you’ve collected onto the fabric to inspect them. If you want a closer look, use a leaf or stick to pick up an insect and put it inside a jar with a loose lid. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4: Observe your catch more closely in jars.

STEP 6: If you want, you can use insect identification books or other means to identify what you’ve found. (Fig. 5)

Fig. 5: Try to identify what you caught in your sweep net.

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT

1. Sweep sections of the same area at different times of day (dawn, noon, dusk, and night) to see how the population changes.

MATERIALS

 Knife that can cut meat

SAFTEY TIPS & HINTS

— Never leave young children unattended near water.

PROTOCOL

STEP 1: Search for a spot, such as a pond, lake, or small stream, to catch flatworms called planaria. They prefer shade and still, clean water, often hiding out near docks, lily pads, large, flat stones, and debris. Flatworms are more active at night.

STEP 2: Cut meat into coin-size pieces and tie it to long pieces of string or use it to bait a fishing hook. Add a sinker near the meat or tie a rock on to the string. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1: Put meat on a string with a weight.

STEP 5: When it’s time, pull the flatworm bait up slowly and lower it into the water in your container. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2: Pull the bait from the water and put it in a jar.

STEP 6: Use a magnifying glass to look for flatworms on the meat. They have a soft, unsegmented, flat body and an arrow-shaped head. If you don’t find any flatworms, lower the bait into the water and leave it for 3 to 4 hours before checking again. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3: Use a magnifying glass to look for flatworms.

STEP 7: Observe the planaria you catch with your magnifying glass and under a microscope, if you have one. Draw a planarium in your science notebook and record the behavior you observe. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4: Observe the planaria you catch.

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT

1. Study how planaria respond to light.

MATERIALS

 1/3 cup (48 g) ground mustard

SAFTEY TIPS & HINTS

— Don’t splash the mustard water in your eyes. It will sting!

PROTOCOL

STEP 1: Add the ground mustard to the water in the jug, bucket, or large container and stir until dissolved. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1: Stir ground mustard into water.

STEP 3: Pour about half of the water-mustard mixture over the dirt in your grid. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2: Pour the water-mustard mix over the ground.

STEP 4: Wait for the worms to come up. When they’ve emerged completely, grab them and put them in a container. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3: Catch worms!

STEP 6: Observe your earthworms. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4: Observe the earthworms.

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT

1. Measure out plots in different environments to see how many worms you catch.