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Forest Floor Terrarium
Students study the aspects of a forest floor ecosystem, including decomposition, the water cycle, food webs, the needs of living things, and physical vs. chemical change over an extended period. In addition, students conduct observations...
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Environment: Banana-in-a-Jar Experiment
Students conduct experiments using bananas sealed in jars to observe the effects on biodegradable waste in landfills. They cover the lid with a plastic sandwich bag to create an airtight seal. Students observe how the oxygen is used...
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TE Activity: How Fast Can a Carrot Rot?
Middle schoolers experiment to define which environmental factors favor decomposition by soil microbes. They decompose carrots in dirt, weigh the carrots periodically to determine how long it takes. They look at how engineers use this...
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Decomposition, Soil, and Life Cycle Research
Students conduct background research on the decomposition process, soil composition, and the life cycle using the resources provided for Internet searches. They work in collaborative groups to research topics as a particular plant, soil...
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Vermicomposting
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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Stoichiometry
For this stoichiometry worksheet, high schoolers calculate balance the chemical equations and then calculate the moles needed to complete or activate the chemical reaction. Students also calculate the volume or grams needed for each...
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Stoichiometry Homework: 3
In this stoichiometry learning exercise, students balance chemical equations. Students apply the concepts of stoichiometry to solve for each problem provided.
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Chemical Reactions
In this chemical reactions worksheet, students determine the half-life of a chemical compound for a decomposition reaction. Students determine the activation energy for the reverse of a reaction. This worksheet has 2 problems to solve.
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"Boy Meets Chemistry... and has a Reaction!"
Students identify the four main types of reactions: synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, and double replacement. They explore the four main types of chemical reactions through an analogy of "Boy Meets Girl" and then "act out"...
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Decomposing Artifacts
Seventh graders participate in an experiment in which they calculate the time of decomposition of different materials. In groups, they fill bags with different materials and cover them in soil. After six months, they create a line graph...
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Litter Garden
Students discuss what man-made and natural materials are visible in litter. Using a sample of litter, they review the concept of decomposition between the two types of materials. They examine the two samples once and a while and record...
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Coal Formation
Students create a condition in an aquarium which allows the formation of coal. Students observe changes in decomposition and color of materials present in aquarium before a coal layer appears. Plant "fossil" imprints will be left behind.
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Investigating Soil
Fourth graders swap local soil samples with another school and examine the differences. They research soil properties, identify organisms that live in soil, create and maintain a biome of soil decomposition and design a poster to present...
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H2O2 Decomposition Lab I
Students conduct an experiment to determine how much hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is actually in a store-bought solution of H2O2.
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Deconstructing, Decomposition and Compost
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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Decomposition
Learners are introduced to the concept of decomposition. They examine decomposition in their school orchard. They write about their findings in a journal.
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Decomposers at Work!
Students design and conduct investigations that illustrate the process of decomposition. After a lecture/demo, students simulate the process of soil composting in the classroom. They closely chart the decomposition of their soil.
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Watching Waste Rot
Students investigate what types of materials decompose, and at what speeds.
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All I Want for Christmas is a Nice, Clean Earth
Students observe properties of items, determine time it takes for organic/inorganic items to decompose, identify differences/similarities between decomposition, identify practical uses in litter/garbage control, & establish reasons...