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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What a Waste

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students analyze components of garbage. They collect and sort a few days' worth of garbage. They chart the results of an investigation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Should It Go? Recycle? Compost? Incinerate? Landfill?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students discuss what happens to trash after it is collected. They sort "clean" trash into groups depending on whether it should be recycled, incinerated, placed in a landfill, composted or if it is something we could avoid using.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worm Wranglers

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders set up and maintain a worm composter. They monitor the waste from their lunches, prepare the menu for the worms, and determine how the keep the worms alive.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vermicomposting

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study vermicomposting. In this vermicomposting lesson, 3rd graders prepare to begin a unit on decomposition by constructing a worm bin. Students collect worms to be used later in experiments.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Using the Land

For Students 9th - 12th
In this land instructional activity, students review the different ways that land is used such as landfills, topsoil, farmland, and hazardous waste. This instructional activity has 13 true or false questions and 1 short answer question.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Micro-organisms and Human Life

For Students 9th - 10th
In this biology worksheet, students identify and locate various vocabulary terms that relate to micro-organisms and human life. There are 20 biology terms located in the word search.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Compost Bucket

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students recognize that plants and soils have a close relationship. They view a photo essay on the common practice and natural process of composting. Afterwards, they observe the process of plant decay over the course of several days.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

EcoFluxx

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students describe examples of predator/prey relationships in nature explain how some animals protect themselves from predation better follow all directions presented to them become more flexible, adaptable and literate learners. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling Garden Waste

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students experience how to make compost. This lesson is ongoing with periodic checks and maintenance. They select a piece of ground around the school or around their homes to establish a compost pile. Organic materials are utilized...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Com-Post With Us?

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students discuss the importance of reducing, recycling and reusing materials to help the environment. As a class, they create a worm bin and observe how it turns material in to compost. They use the internet to research the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Com-Post With Us? Learn About Recycling While Having Fun

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students examine the importance of recycling to help the environment. In groups, they make a compost bin on the school grounds recording how the material changes from week to week. They collect other materials for recycling like cell...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composting Presentations

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create an presentation that suggests composting as a possible solution to solid waste issues. They research the types of solid waste that can be composted, the composting process and the role of worms in composting.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worm Posters Presentations and Worm Box Part 2

For Teachers K
Students work in small groups to investigate the topic, make a visual aid, and present to the class. They are given the following four topics: Worms and other decomposers, taking care of a worm box, waster and recycling, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classroom Composting

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students observe and describe the cyclic nature of life. They identify and appreciate the importance of a balanced ecosystem. Finally, students compare and contrast biodegradable and non-biodegradable resources in nature and describe the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Compost

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to the concept of biodegradability. In groups, they use the internet to research the types of materials that affect the process. They collect materials from their local community and develop an experiment to test...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

De"compost"ition Activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate the decomposition process and the parameters which influence the rate at which it occurs. They design a "controlled" experiment by comparing decomposition rates between two compost piles. Analysis questions include...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Selecting Soil Organisms in Compost

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students demonstrate that many of the enzyme systems needed to break down--and therefore clean up-society's wastes already exist in nature among the decomposers. They select the best starch-munching organisms by altering the environment...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deconstructing, Decomposition and Compost

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create and tend to an outdoor compost pile. They research about decomposition and composting. They create two activities for their peers to complete.
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Lesson Plan
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Cafeteria Compost

For Teachers K - 12th
Students gather information on composting. They create their own compost pile using proper materials from the lunchroom. They work together to record observations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing With Compost

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students discuss the positives and negatives of composting. They plant their own plant using composting material and record results. They create a poster for the classroom.
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Lesson Plan
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Composting -- Nature's Disappearing Act

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Studenst work together to discover the concept of biodegradability. They build a model of a landfill and how different items decompose. They examine how engineers use this information for better waste management.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Decomposition

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create a compost pile and chart changes as the materials decompose. Students draw pictures of items placed into their "landfill" and predict how and whether the item will change or not. After two weeks, students write...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Decomposition

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students create a compost pile and chart changes as the materials decompose. Students draw pictures of items placed into their "landfill" and predict how and whether the item will change or not. After two weeks, students write...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compost Columns

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this unit of lessons, students examine the role of compost columns and recycling. They create a KWL chart about garbage in Chicago. They also examine life cycles and packaging of everyday products.