Here's a sample science kit to try out from my book
Sandbox Scientist

EARTHWORMS

Earthworms are simple, fail safe creatures to explore. Though worms are seemingly void of personality kids readily include them in imaginative play. They become babies that need a bath or a family living in the dirt.

As children play with worms they’ll notice new things about earthworm bodies and behavior. Some children will hold them endlessly, while others will watch and only occasionally give the wigglers a gentle nudge.

Worms are practical, as well as plentiful. They are common residents of lawns and gardens, as well as, a typical bait shop fare. Worms are a gift to gardeners, both young and old. While experienced gardeners appreciate them for their soil improvement services, young gardeners will almost immediately classify them as fascinating critters that don’t run away.

MATERIALS

Worms (the more the better)
One or more plastic tubs containing an inch of water
Water color brushes
Moist washcloths or paper towels
Magnifying lenses
Large leaves

THE SETUP

Place materials at a table or on a lawn. Share ideas about how to be gentle with worm friends. Give one worm to each child that wants one.

WHERE TO GET

Locate worms in lawns or gardens by finding small piles of soil called castings. Castings are a soil and mucus mixture worms cast out from their burrows. At a glance they look like small plugs of soil, but up close they resemble brown toothpaste extruded from a tube.

Dig wherever you find castings and worms should be nearby. The drier and colder the soil, the deeper they will burrow. If worms are not available you can most likely purchase some from a bait shop, nursery, or neighborhood worm catcher.

CARE AND FEEDING

A liter soda bottle with the narrowed section cut off makes a fine worm motel. Just fill the container halfway with moist soil, add a handful of damp dead tree leaves, and drop the worms in. Place an old sock over the top and keep the container in a cool dark place.

THE SCIENCE

Watch for investigations of worm senses, locomotion, and other
behaviors. Children will have many questions which you can record for later discussion.

What does your worm do? Why? What else do you know about worms?

REAL LIFE SCIENCE (Age 2-5)

Two 2 year olds, Claire and Denise were squealing as they looked at the worms. Claire called them snakes. Denise backed up and watched from afar. She did not want to touch the worms. I sat quitely and watched, only intervening to protect a worm or magnifying lens from damage.

Eddie poked at his worm with his lens and soon two pieces of worm were wiggling around on the table. I was concerned for the worm’s life, so I gently intervened and showed him how to look through the lens. He continued to use the lens for a poker. On behalf of the worms I refocused him by trading a brush for the lens. The brush was gentler on the worms.

Sean touched and observed his worm intently. Though he was often rough with the other children Sean was surprisingly gentle with his worm. The children busily played, observed and talked.

"If you put it on the table it will fall down"
" He’s on the chair"
"It pooped."

After 20 minutes most of the children gravitated toward other activities, but Sean and Claire continued to examine the worms. Claire attempted to pick up her worm and wanted help. I suggested that Sean help her. As Claire played with her worm she yakked at it .

"I hate worms" she said, "Scary. The Snake bit my finger"
Despite her words, she was mesermized by her silent, slippery creature.

As I put the worms away I examined them for damage. Besides Eddie’s worm, two other worms had lost part of their tail segments, which they would likely regrow. These worms, like martyrs to public service, had not been damaged in vain. The children were learning to like worms and would luckily continue loving them for a lifetime.