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Decomposition vs. Synthesis Reaction

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students define the term chemical reaction, identify the reactants and products in a chemical reaction, distinguish between decomposition and synthesis reactions and construct reactions using food items.
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Look At A Landfill

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore how landfills function. For this landfill lesson, students explore the use of landfills and the decomposition process by creating a model landfill. Students discuss pros and cons to landfills and how potential problems...
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Case of the Missing Pumpkin

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore the process of decomposition in plants. In this plant biology activity, students use a cleaned out pumpkin and observe how the decomposition process takes place. Students write down adjectives to describe the pumpkin.
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Composting

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Using 2-liter bottles, junior ecologists create composting tubes in which they place nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich materials. They observe what changes occur over two weeks' time. Provide more specific direction to your class as to what...
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Where Does Al the Waste Go?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students construct a sanitary mini-landfill and an open mini-dump. Over a thirty day period, they compare the two methods and determine landfills are envorinmentally safer. They observe a demonstration of burning waste. They create...
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Science: Fossil of a Carbonized Plant

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students classify leaves by shape and margins and use them to create models of plant fossils. By using paper over a leaf, they simulate fossilization of organisms onto sedimentary rocks. Following instructions on worksheets, students...
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Garbage in the Garden

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students create their own compost.  In this soil lesson, students fill a bag with waste and soil, in order to create a mini compost bin. Students observe the baggies over a 6 week period, they record their findings and collect data...
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H2O2 Decomposition Lab I

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students conduct an experiment to determine how much hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is actually in a store-bought solution of H2O2.
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Now You See It, Now You Don't

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore organic and inorganic objects. In this environmental lesson students perform a composting experiment using flowers in different soils. Students record their observations.
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Compost in a Bag!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experiment to see which objects decompose. In this compost lesson, 4th graders observe the changes of labeled objects in a bag. Leave the objects for one month and record the changes by observation and weight. Students...
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"Leaf" It in Your Yard

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students research about the process of composting. Students apply their research by creating a compost pile at school that will be maintained once or twice a month for the remainder of the school year.
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Composting Conundrum

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners research cafeteria composting. In this composting lesson, students design a vessel that would allow the cafeteria staff to collect food scraps for composting. Then learners build a prototype and present it to the class. Lastly...
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Recycling

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore the recycling process. In this recycling lesson plan, students gain understanding of how garbage is disposed of. Students makes lists of things that can be recycled. Students discuss how animals and plants are damaged by...
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Identifying and Explaining Reactions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Introduce high schoolers to chemical reactions with this series of activities. In a little over an hour, scientists observe four gas-producing reactions: the combination of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, placing pasta in...
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FBI

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experiment with compost. For this Science lesson, 4th graders begin a worm compost as well as an outdoor compost. Students discuss decomposition.
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Decomposing Artifacts

For Teachers 7th
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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Decomposers at Work!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
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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Litter Garden

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars 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...
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All I Want for Christmas is a Nice, Clean Earth

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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...
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Investigating Soil

For Teachers 4th
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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Coal Formation

For Teachers 7th - 8th
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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Forensic Entomology: What the Blowfly Saw

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students read a paragraph describing various insects and decomposition rates, then fill in the table indicating when the three insects arrived or left the body. They write paragraphs explaining when the person died, and how they know.
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H2O2 Decomposition Lab II

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct an oxidation experiment in which they must determine how much hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is actually in a store-bought solution of H2O2.
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COMPOSTING: WHY BOTHER?

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore the composting process and participate in a contest to make the most compost the fastest from the school's kitchen and yard waste.

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