CHILDREN'S WRITING: SECRET AGENT WORMS

Their names are Napoleon Soil (Agent 001) and Jane Blonde (Agent 009). They are known as the Secret Agent Worms, and they work for the top-secret, underground organization known as E.A.R.T.H., or Espionage Agents with Really Terrific Hair. Doug created the Secret Agent Worms as a way to teach third through fifth graders about soil and water.

Books

The two Secret Agent Worm books are written at a fourth-grade reading level.

The Disappearing Earth
(University of Illinois, 2000, 36 pages, softcover)
Subject: Soil erosion
Winner of six awards from the Association for Communications Excellence, including four gold medals and an Outstanding Professional Skill Award

Beneath the City of Ooze
(University of Illinois, 2003, 36 pages, softcover)
Subject: Stormwater pollution
Doug co-wrote this story with illustrator Brian Cook.
Winner of five awards from the Association for Communications Excellence, including a gold medal and an Outstanding Professional Skill Award in writing

Teacher’s Packets

A Teacher’s Packet accompanies each of the Secret Agent Worm books.

Soil Erosion Teacher’s Packet
(University of Illinois, 2000)
The Soil Erosion Teacher’s Packet includes a copy of The Disappearing Earth, a teacher’s guide, a full-color poster, activity sheets, 40 E.A.R.T.H. stickers, and 40 bookworm bookmarks.

Stormwater Teacher’s Packet
(University of Illinois, 2003)
The Stormwater Teacher’s Packet includes a copy of Beneath the City of Ooze, a teacher’s guide, a full-color poster, activity sheets, 40 E.A.R.T.H. membership cards, and 40 Secret Agent Worm temporary tattoos.

Hands-On Science Kit

A science kit was developed for the Secret Agent Worm stormwater curriculum. This kit includes the Stormwater Teacher’s Packet, plus all of the supplies to create a small tabletop City of Ooze. Teachers can use the City of Ooze to demonstrate how pollution enters our city storm sewers during a rainstorm.

Stormwater Hands-on Science Kit
University of Illinois, 2003

Secret Agent Worm Website

The Secret Agent Worm website includes animated Secret Agent Worm games, plus a treasure-trove of top-secret information about soil and water. Visit the site at secretagentworms.org.