Worms inching their way into the curriculum

Left to right: Author and environmental scientist Rachael Goddard, Josef de Jong Waikato SIFE’s executive director and science student Hannah Meads who was one of the leaders of the worm project.

A leading children’s author has teamed up with some Waikato University students to produce a manual on worms and waste for teachers.

Rachael Goddard, a finalist in two national book awards last year for Rubbish! – Everything you ever wanted to know about rubbish, landfills recycling and worms, donated her time and expertise to edit and critique Worms Unlimited for Waikato’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).

SIFE is an international organisation for students to work for the betterment of their communities and getting valuable business experience at the same time.

The project started at Hillcrest Normal School, then last year, SIFE students worked with Knighton Normal and their worm farm.

They found the lowly worm could travel through many strands of the curriculum – art, maths, language and science – as the students collected their worm waste, packaged, marketed and sold it in the wider community.

One enterprising group of year three and four students approached The Warehouse to see if they’d sell the product in their garden section.

The SIFE students then developed a booklet that could be sold to and used by primary schools but, knowing that it needed some refining, approached Ms Goddard who’s not only a writer but also an environmental scientist.

“I thought this was a worthwhile project, with the potential to get the message out about our waste problem in NZ,” says Ms Goddard.

The waste component of the resource was assisted from material and research for Rubbish! which was coupled with a lesson plan for teachers.

“SIFE combined this with school curriculum learning outcomes and business aspects to complete the package for teachers,” says Ms Goddard.

“I think the publication will be an important and valuable resource for schools as we move towards a greater understanding of sustainability.

And, of course, children can take what they learn home and apply it there.”

SIFE Waikato’s 2009 executive director Josef de Jong says it’s great to see the end product after all the work that’s gone into it.

“It’s a credit to all who have contributed over the past two years. The process from conception to completion has been a remarkable journey,” he says.

Promoting the Worms Unlimited project is one of several that SIFE students will work on during 2009 before going to the national SIFE finals later in the year.

The winning NZ university team goes on to compete at the SIFE world finals. Waikato has been a world finalist three times in seven years.

The $20 Worms Unlimited booklet was launched at Waikato Management School in February and can be ordered by e-mailing: sife@waikato.ac.nz