Composting in the classroom is a valuable teaching tool for introducing biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials and their affects on recycling and renewal for the earth.
Hands-on projects involving sorting biodegradable materials from non-biodegradable materials help tech kids about composting. This leads to discussion on concepts such as resource management and the state of our garbage and waste in landfills. It naturally incorporates lessons on the life cycle, death, and decomposition of plants and animal life.
This project will give kids a new appreciation for resources and our environment with the possibility of passing that knowledge onto others. Not to mention, this is one of those "side" curriculums that are exceptionally fun to teach. Classroom composting activities aren't limited to traditional school-type classrooms. They're interesting lessons for home schools, and youth organizations such as 4H, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts. This project is also interesting as a family project in the home.
Below is a composting lesson for your classroom, or youth group. You can follow this project as it is or try modifying, it to compliment other classroom activities.
Understanding Biodegradable Materials Activity
This biodegradable project lesson brings help kids understand which items biodegrade and can be placed in a compost pile or bin. Start with the definition of biodegradable before you start the project. The word "biodegradable" refers to anything that's capable of being broken down by living organisms into a simpler component. Generally speaking materials that are biodegradable is made up of organic matter such as plant or animal materials.
Project Materials Needed:
- Biodegradable items that might normally be thrown away such as paper towels, paper cups, empty toilet paper rolls, cereals boxes (without the plastic insert), leftover food, leaves, grass clippings, etc.
- Non-biodegradable items that are normally thrown away such as aluminum cans, plastic soda bottles, and glass.
- Blackboard and chalk or a large piece of butcher-type paper and markers.
- The goal for this activity is to give the kids hands-on experience deciding what is biodegradable (and therefore, compostable) and what can and can't be recycled.
For this activity you'll want to have on hand different examples of "trash" or the stuff we throw away such as plastic soda bottles, aluminum foil, paper, grass clippings, food waste, leaves, clothing (100% cotton is compostable), and glass bottles. The ideal situation is to have each student bring in something that they've actually thrown away. However, the teacher may want to have additional items on hand to ensure there are enough examples for each category.
- Place all of the garbage-bound items together on one table. Using a blackboard or large sheet of paper, ask the students to name things that get thrown away daily at home and at school. Some time should be taken to let the students brainstorm. The teacher should list these suggestions on the blackboard so the they can see how surprisingly long the list becomes.
- It should be explained to the class that materials made from things that once lived (plants and animals), are biodegradable. Talk about the natural cycle of death, and decay (decomposition).To expand on this, rebirth can be discussed as the decomposed materials that have become compost support plant and animal life.
- The teacher can ask students to raise their hand if they see anything on the list that's biodegradable and can be added to a compost pile. Have one student circle those items.
- Choose a different student go over to the table and remove all the compostable items. Although there's a written list on the board, the physical presence of the items hit home for kids more than just the words on the board.
- Have a student circle the items on the board that don't actually decompose but can be recycled such as glass and plastic. Then remove those items from the garbage table. Now have everyone look at what's left on the table and written on the board. Ask students if they're surprised at how little is left there to actually "throw away". Did any of the compostable items surprise them (like the clothing)? Are the students using more biodegradable or non-biodegradable items daily?
This composting project should be followed up with a discussion on what students can do in their everyday lives to minimize the trash that ends up in our landfills. Recycling bins and compost piles are a key part of this conversation. Also by making students aware of the products they use, they start to become aware of their choices when purchasing and using more biodegradable items.
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