Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Should We Recycle Plastics?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students understand the value and harmful effects of plastics. In this plastics recycling lesson, students create a small compost bin that allows materials to return to the soil. Students explore what happens to the plastic in their...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Composting

For Students 4th - 6th
In this composting worksheet, learners read an informative paragraph about composting and then respond to 7 short answer questions regarding the topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classroom Composting

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discover the benefits of composting. They identify the steps of decomposition as well. They are read a book and discuss what items decompose.
Lesson Plan
Nuffield Foundation

Microbes Ate My Homework

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Now you have a new excuse not to do your homework. A long-term experiment has learners explore cellulose-digesting enzymes. They simulate how paper breaks down in a compost bin. There's no need to blame your dog for eating your homework...
Organizer
Curated OER

Life In the Soil: Home Sweet Home: Red Worms

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this soil worksheet, students complete 2 pages about the importance of soil in plant growth. Students read about red worms and answer 2 questions about composting. Students fill out a chart with their observations of plants planted in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature's Recycling Program

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Learners identify what materials make up compost. In this science of recycling lesson, students explain the benefits of composting determine how compost is a good plant fertilizer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Red Wigglers

For Teachers K - 1st
Students are introduced to the benefits of using Red Wiggler worms to produce compost. They identify the requirements for the worms and the methods to follow in order to produce compost. They draw a picture of a functioning worm bin.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worm Composting: Vermiculture

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Learners compost in a limited space and describe the decomposing process. Students convert unwanted, organic matter, particularly food scraps and paper into fertile soil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Worm World

For Teachers K - 1st
Young scholars maintain a compost bin and build a worm observatory. They design experiments relating to worms and record observations in a worm journal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sustainable Agriculture

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students perform an experiment to find out if plants grow best when grown in soil with no fertilizer, with chemical fertilizers, or with compost that they have made themselves. Students discover how agriculture practices can benefit the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Young scholars 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vermiculture Food Waste Compost Program for Touchstone School

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars explore the advantages of composting.  In this recycling lesson students complete a worm compost project and collect food waste to feed them. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

De"compost"ition

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop an understanding of the decomposition process and the parameters which influence the rate at which it occurs.
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

FBI

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experiment with compost. In this Science instructional activity, 4th graders begin a worm compost as well as an outdoor compost. Students discuss decomposition.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compost Tag

For Teachers K - 5th
Students identify biodegradable items. In this environmental lesson plan, students participate in a game of tag. A student's name is called out along with a biodegradable item and the student is tossed a ball.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling Garden Waste

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worming Your Way Through the Soil

For Teachers K - 5th
Students study soil, living and non-living particles in the soil, and learn about composting. In this soil study lesson, students study soil samples and discuss the living and non-living components of the soil. Students classify the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Build a Worm Bin

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars explore the process of decomposition. In this ecology and measurement instructional activity, students prepare a worm home to be used for vermicomposting. Young scholars weigh a group of worms and the added food, recording...
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.
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Where Do I Put My Trash?

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Where does the trash go after you put it in the garbage can? The class discusses sustainability, recycling, compost, and landfills as they play as fun relay game. In teams, they race to be the fastest group to successfully sort...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

F.B.I.

For Teachers K - 4th
Students create a worm bin full of fruit and vegetable scraps wit paper and observe what happens over time. In this decomposers lesson plan, students observe that the fruit and vegetable scraps become new soil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worms: Nature's Recyclers

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore vermi-composting. In this vermi-composting lesson, students listen to the story Diary of a Worm and discuss the parts of a worm. They create worm bins and add organic food for the worms to recycle. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Helping the Soil

For Students 5th - 6th
In this soil conservation worksheet, students study and analyze two excellent ways to enhance soil conservation: compost heap and leaf-mould. Students review all the ingredients in making both.