Directions Pour some bran flakes or oatmeal into the jar. (Less than half a jar of flakes is enough.) Cut a small piece off the potato. Place it in the jar for dampness. You will need to replace the potato with a fresh piece every week. Place the mealworm inside the jar. It will be the mealworm's home for several weeks. Have an adult help you make a small hole in the lid before you put it on the jar. Write your name on the jar. Put the mealworm jar in a warm, dark, and safe place. Bring it out only when you are observing the mealworm. Draw pictures of the mealworm as you observe changes. Keep a diary of your observations. Answer the following questions: What stages did you observe? What do you expect to happen next?

1: most common garden plants prefer loam — soils with a balance of different-sized mineral particles (approximately 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay) with ample organic matter and pore space. however, some plants grow better in sandy soils, while others are well-adapted to clay soils.

2: available water capacity is the maximum amount of plant available water a soil can provide. it is an indicator of a soil's ability to retain water and make it sufficiently available for plant use. available water capacity is the water held in soil between its field capacity and permanent wilting point.

3: it is the same for all living things (plants and animals). it also includes very tiny organisms that our eyes cannot see. they are known as microorganisms, and include viruses, bacteria and fungi.