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In this activity, learners conduct a scientific investigation involving decomposition and discover that the life cycle of trash is affected by its organic or inorganic nature. Learners develop questions, hypothesize, and record observations in compost workbooks throughout the seven-week experiment. This detailed lesson guide includes key vocabulary, background information, wrap-up and extension ideas, and resources. [Activity is publicly available through a web crawler capture on Archive.org.]
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 to 12 months
- free per group of students
- Ages 6 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- mason jars (6)
- pieces of trash: an apple core, a piece of plastic, two leaves from outside, a piece of bread, a piece of tin or aluminum foil, and a piece of paper
- soil, enough to fill six jars (from outside, not store-bought)
- composting workbooks
Subjects
-
Life Sciences
-
Diversity of Life
- Plants
- Animals
- Viruses and Bacteria
- Protists and Fungi
-
Ecology
- Ecosystems
- Human Impact
-
Diversity of Life
-
Mathematics
-
Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
- Data Representation
-
Data Analysis and Probability
-
The Nature of Science
-
Science and Society
- Risks and Benefits
-
The Scientific Process
- About Inquiry
- Asking Questions
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
-
Science and Society
Informal Categories
- Animals
- Gardening
- Nature and Environment
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, California Academy of Sciences, 2008