Create a worm observation station to provide your students with an up-close look at these critters. Fill a fish tank with soil, purchase worms from a pet or a bait shop and place them in the fish tank. Provide students with magnifying glasses and encourage them to use them to examine the worms as they move through the soil. Have them draw pictures to illustrate what they see the worms doing in the soil and discuss what they see.
Provide preschoolers with an entertaining worm-themed gross motor activity. Have students lay on the ground on their bellies and instruct them to wiggle around like worms. Ask them to move forward and backward while they are moving, just like worms. Once they feel comfortable moving in this way, engage them in a worm race. Assemble them on one side of the room and see who can wiggle his or her way to the other side of the room first.
Use worms as a way to teach preschoolers about the sound that the letter "W" makes. Print out upper- and lowercase letter "Ws." Distribute the papers and discuss the sound the letter makes. Say the word "worm" and ask students if they can tell you what letter it begins with. Once it is clear that "worm" begins with the letter "W," provide children with worm stickers or stamps and have them cover their letters with worms.
Have children make worm pictures using sand and gummy worms. Have children color white paper different shades of brown to resemble soil. When they have finished coloring their paper, instruct them to dip paintbrushes into craft glue and spread the glue on the paper. Have them stick gummy worms onto the paper and sprinkle sand over the glue.
Make tasty snacks that contain worms. Make a large bowl of chocolate pudding and crush up Oreo cookies in a large bowl. Provide children with clear cups and have them fill the cups with layers of pudding and crushed up Oreos. Between the layers of pudding and Oreos, have children place gummy worms to make it look as if worms are crawling through the snack.