Students picked up worms and dug through soil as they made their own instrument to help conserve the environment.

Paula Pogue, instructor of the Hopping and Squirming into Fun class, taught the third-through fifth-graders about vermicomposting, the process where worms turn organic waste into nutrient soil.

Pogue let the students make their own vermicomposting bins, which are containers where worms are stored and allowed to decompose food scraps.

Newspaper was spread out along the floor so the students could grab chunks of dirt and pick out red wiggler worms.

Newspaper scraps, egg shells, banana peels and watermelon were put in for the worm food, and the worms mixed into soil were placed on top of the food.

Pogue informed the students that they could feed their worms scraps of food and keep the bins in a kitchen drawer or another dark, quiet place.

“Worms are a very integral part of the environment,” Pogue said. “They’re around all over and people don’t even know about them.”

When worms digest food, a product called casting is left after digestion. Casting eliminates plant diseases, keeps the soil aerated, retains moisture in the soil, and is used as an organic pesticide.

The favorite food for worms to eat is watermelon. Worms can eat fruits and vegetables as well as egg shells, coffee grounds and newspaper, but no greasy foods, meat or cheese.

After the students went to the restroom to wash their hands, they made and ate edible dirt pies out of pudding, gummy worms and Oreos.

Pogue then taught the students about frogs and toads and the differences between the two.

The students heard different types of frog calls from Pogue’s Ipod and were shown pictures of the frogs that made each noise.

The students were able to practice making the frog noises by using items such as hair combs, marbles, balloons, bells and their own voices.

Pogue said she wanted to teach students about how to preserve frogs in their environment.

“Frogs are one of my favorite creatures of all time, and I think that the kids should know about how to be able to help preserve them because they’re on the endangered list,” Pogue said.

Frogs are endangered because of destroyed wetlands, pollution and predators that consume them.

Frogs serve as bioindicators, which mean they indicate where pollution is from the negative effects they receive through their sensitive skin.

Pogue told the students about another group of students who had discovered frogs with missing legs or extra legs, which showed that the environment was bad.

Pogue sad she wants the students to help frogs and toads by cutting back on littering and pesticides and educating others about how important frogs are to the environment.

“It really gets me upset when I hear people are out frog hunting. I know people like frog legs, but frogs are so beneficial to us,” Pogue said.

The Hopping and Squirming into Fun class was held Tuesday in the Doudna Fine Arts Center in Room 2980.

Alesha Bailey can be reached at 581-7942 or