Decomposition Column
Source Institutions
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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In this activity, learners turn empty 2-liter bottles into a see-through compost container. Through the sides of the bottle, learners make weekly observations of decomposition over the course of several months. They can explore how moisture, air, temperature and light affect the process, vary the design of their bottle, and build more than one column to allow for different decomposing materials to be compared. The activity comes from a printed book that is also available in Spanish, though the Spanish versions are not available online.
- 1 to 2 hours
- 1 to 12 months
- $1 - $5 per student
- Ages 4 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- Three 2-liter soda bottles
- One bottle cap
- Leaves, grass and plant clippings, kitchen scraps, newspapers, animal manure and soil
- Box top or drawer to stabilize bottle while making cutting lines
- Marker, wax pencil or crayon for drawing cutting lines
- Cutting blade or utility knife to start cut
- Scissors to cut bottle
- Awl to make holes in bottle caps and film cans (optional)
- Clear waterproof postal or bookbinding tape to join columns
- Clothes line, polyester or nylon craft cording (optional)
Subjects
- Earth and Space Science
- Earth's History
- Ecology
- Earth's History
- Engineering and Technology
- Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Engineering
- Life Sciences
- Diversity of Life
- Viruses and Bacteria
- Protists and Fungi
- Ecology
- Ecosystems
- Diversity of Life
Informal Categories
- Gardening
- Nature and Environment
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- smell
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
- Build a Decomposition Investigation Column
- Hang Your Decomposition Column
- Fill Your Decomposition Column
- Observe Your Decomposition Column
- Explore with your Decomposition Column
- Microbiology of Decomposition
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Source Collection:
- Science After School Consumer's Guide
Rights:
- Creative Commons, Wisconsin Fast Plants Program, 2007
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation
