It's a gas. Middle schoolers build a biogas generator following the directions in this resource. After a few days of observation, they demonstrate that the gas given off by the decomposing manure is flammable. The activity concludes as class members consider the implications for energy production.

Concepts

biomass, anaerobic activity, energy, alternative energy sources, organic chemistry, energy transformation

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Measure the mass of the bottle with the manure before and after the gas is created to determine any loss
• Develop the chemical equation that explains what is happening
• Preview the scene from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome of the methane-generating pit to determine if appropriate for your class

Classroom Considerations

• Some class members may object to handling the manure
• Store the biogas generator under a vent hood
• Make one generator for the class as a demonstration

Pros

• A simple experiment that does not require a lot of expensive lab equipment
• The resource contains background information about the natural formation of methane

Cons

• The generator takes some time to produce enough methane to show it is flammable
• Safety measures are not outlined in the resource