Investigating Composting
Earth ecoSTEM Kit Materials Used: See-through Composter, Tumbling Composter, & Pocket Scale
ENGAGE - Students Observe This Phenomenon
GATHER
REASON
EXPLORE a Kit-Supported Learning Experience
Students will design and conduct investigations using the (included) See-Through Composter, thermometers, and scale to compare effect of type of material, type soils, moisture, air, or temperature on decomposition rate.
How Long until Its Decomposed in the Ocean?
How Long Does Trash Really Last?
What Happens to Trash in a Landfill?
EVALUATE
Students should be able to describe parts of the decomposition process including actions by animals, fungi, bacteria and invertebrates. Decay includes loss of fluids, breakdown of matter into smaller parts, and breaking apart of molecules so that nutrients are released and available for reuse by living organisms. Students should be able to explain that different waste materials break down at different rates, and that temperature and exposure to air also affect the speed of decay.
ELABORATE
Students will read and share articles from Natural Inquirer and Science News for Students, using Jigsaw-style activity.
- Recycling the Dead
- Mealworms Chow Down on Plastics
- Tiny but Might Food Clean-Up Crews
- The Dirt on Soil
- Bacteria are All Around Us and That’s Okay
- Chew om This! The Impact of Termites on Forest Wood
- Leaf Me Alone! Cycling of Nutrients between Trees and Soil
- Food for the Soil- Salmon-derived Nutrients
- Compostable vs Biodegradable -Earth 911
EXTEND
Students will use the (included) tumbling composter to establish a compost protocol for the class, grade level or school; educate others about what is compostable; add other types of “browns” and greens as needed to balance the materials and optimize compost.
COMMUNICATE
Revised EXPLANATION
After making sense of a core idea by engaging in science or engineering practices through the lens of crosscutting concepts, students revise their original explanations of a phenomenon.
EMPOWERMENT
Students may propose solutions and choose a project to do, such as setting up a grade-level lunch composting program.