Composting

Download This Lesson: Composting

Brief Description: Students will learn basic facts about composting with worms, called vermicomposting. They will be able to give examples of “brown” and “green” ingredients while constructing a worm composting bin. Students will be able to observe, record and graph composting changes over time and describe the importance of aeration. Students also will be able to use problem solving and persuasive writing techniques in connection with their compost bin.

 

Goals

Students will…

• Learn basic facts about composting with worms, called vermicomposting.
• Compost at home.
• Increase their awareness of the environmental benefits of composting.
• Reduce food waste.

Objectives

Students will be able to…

1. Define composting
2. Explain the two types of composting 
3. Explain the role of  worms in composting
4. Give an example of a “brown” ingredient
5. Give an example of a “green” ingredient
6. Construct a worm composting bin
7. Observe and record composting changes over time
8. Demonstrate the importance of aeration
9. Observe and record temperature and moisture of compost bin
10. Construct a bar graph of the temperature and moisture observations
11. Problem solve for compost bin problems
12. Write to persuade parents to compost
13. Write composting directions

Lesson Activities

• Introduce composting
• Background information on composting
• Lessons from the Farm
• Set up compost bin
• Make salad and dessert recipe (Form groups of 4 to 6 students)
• Eat
• Wrap-up
• Distribute copies of recipes and challenge sheets to students
• Clean-up

 Other Compost Activities

Compost fact sheet, Writing ideas, Worm anatomy sheet

(Download Complete Answer Key)

Cooking Maine Foods from the Ground Up
Alignment-at-a-Glance

Learning Objective	Health Education Standards	Cross-Discipline
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.		SCI D3b
h.
i.
j.
l.		ELA  B5a
m.		ELA  B2a
n.		MATH  B2 (Partially)

(Provided by Maine Nutrition Network)