yep, we just bent the senko/lookalike in half, put a long shank worm hook (nothing fancy) through the mid section, back around and back up through so the hook is pointing straight up and the worm is suspended by roughly the middle. (wacky rig) The nice thing is that a 4 or 5" worm has enough weight that kids can cast but no added weight is needed. Then when it hits the water it sinks slowly. You just cast into structure or better yet right on the edge of structure since the hook point does show through and so is not totally weedless.

I just taught them to let it hit bottom on the cast. Then just 2 quick twitches to get it moving up (the two ends of the worm bow together and then spring back up when twitching) in the water column, then let it sink again. Twitch twice, sink, over and over. The fish usually pick it up as it sinks so they had to be alert to a subtle tightening of the slack that they didn't do (tightening on the falling down phase) or it is easier when you see the line start moving sideways when you know that you are only reeling straight back towards the boat. With subtle pickups or sideways movement it is best to wait to the count of 1-Mississippi, 2-Mississipi and then set the hook or wait till you feel a little tension and then set it. Amazing how readily the fish want to pick up that falling wacky rigged worm.