To get them engaged, I usually start them out by having them look around in the worm bin for plant pieces. I like to tell them that worms eat plant matter, then poop out soil! (Any mention of 'poop' usually gets the kindergarten class feeling enthusiastic...) Then I say how soil isn't smelly or dirty like our poop, and we pass it around so everyone can see and smell it.

I mention how worms make the soil healthy by adding nutrients, and that their tunnels allow air and water into the soil. Since plants need these things to live, we need our friends the worms!

From here we usually go right into gently using our fingers to explore the soil for creatures. I've found that small plastic magnifying boxes are great to use-- I hold the boxes and have the kids drop in the worms as they find them, then put the lid on and pass them around so everyone gets a chance to see. This can usually occupy them for a while; if they start getting squeamish or bored I might have them see if they can find things in the soil that don't belong (like trash wrappers) or ask if anyone can spot any orange-colored worm eggs.

We made up a coloring book to give to the kids. We usually take along at least one bin. And have a bag of eggs that have, and a bag that have not hatched.