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Decomposition is a natural process to eliminate organic waste left by plants and animals. Bacteria and other creatures known as decomposers break down leaves, grass, food scraps and sticks to make a nutrient rich additive for soil. Compost is an inexpensive alternative to buying fertilizers and prevents yard waste from going to a landfill. Yard and food waste makes up 13% of household waste that is thrown away in the United States.
Composting Classroom Activities
PreK-3: CSI: Compost Science Investigation
Grades 3-6: Decomposition
Objective: Students will compost organic material and observe how materials decompose.
Materials: Compost materials: leaves, vegetable, fruit, bread, plant clippings, hay, straw, strips of newspaper, sawdust, pine needles; Composting container: clear heavy large plastic bag, zip lock baggie, or clear plastic 2-Litter bottle or glass jar; 5 gallon bucket; Natural activator: garden soil, compost, manure, alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal; Scoop: garden shovel, spoon
Vocabulary: compost, decomposition, organic matter
Procedures:
Students can compost as a class experiment or in teams.
- Students collect food waste from home or from their lunches. No oil, dairy, meats or salad dressing.
- Create mixture by mixing all materials in a large bucket unless you plan to test materials separately. Add 2 parts brown (leaves, hay, straw, newspaper or sawdust), 1 parts green (vegetable, fruit, bread, plant clippings or pine needles), and 1 part activator. Fill container three-fourth full with compost mixture. Sprinkle water to make moist, if needed. Seal the container or bag and knead or shake. Keep container in a warm place. As an alternative experiment, added water to the compost and leave other dry; aerate compost by allowing oxygen in the container and leave the other sealed without air.
- Allow air into compost and mix it every few days.
- Students should record observations once a week for 6 to 8 weeks on changes in composition of the compost mixture and color of compost.
Conclusion:
- Review changes of the compost materials throughout the experiment.
Time: one class period for prep, long term observations.
Extenstion: Use a mixture of soil and compost to plant seeds.
Grades 7-12 ISW: Comparative Composting
Click here to learn about comparative composting.
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Web Resources:
www.wormwoman.com: Vermicomposting
http://www.oldgrowth.org/compost: Compost resource page
www.compostingcouncil.org: Composting Council
http://www.a-horizon.com/compost/compost_menu.html: Rot Web
http://go4green.sask.com/home/garden/compost5.html: Go For Green
http://compost www.css.cornell.edu/composting_homepage.html: Cornell Composting
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