Worksheet
Curated OER

Composting Leftovers

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this composting leftovers worksheet, students set up an experiment with food waste and soil, observing and recording the differences for two weeks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Backyard Bacteria

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students experiment with different bacterias that they found and make predictions of their growth.  In this investigative activity students use petri dishes to grow their bacteria then summarize what has happened. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Testing for Catalase Activity

For Students 10th - Higher Ed
In this catalase activity, learners read about how enzymes work in cells. Then students conduct an experiment to test for catalase activity in potatoes. This activity has 1 graph and 6 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rotten Truth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the process of decomposition using lunch leftovers and soil. They complete the inquiry over set periods time as they observe the how composting takes place and finally, they sort the materials into biodegradable,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compost Cake

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine the decomposition process. They create their own class compost pile and record their observations. They discover which materials decompose at a different rate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Funky Fungus

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss decomposition, bacteria, fungi and other microscopic organisms. They participate in an experiment to grow fungus on bread. As the fungus colonies grow, students observe them under a microscope to identify and locate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microorganisms: Good Guys or Bad Guys?

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students discover the role microorganisms play in our lives. In this decomposition lesson, students examine decaying foods and plants in order to analyze the different bacteria that grows. Students discuss the good and bad of...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Learning About Composting

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students can create a compost pile to learn about the decomposition process.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Recycling and Waste Disposal

For Students 5th - 6th
In this recycling and waste disposal worksheet, learners check one of 5 boxes with predictions on how long certain materials such as styrofoam and glass take to decompose and disappear underground. There are 10 items that students must...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Back to the Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students conduct an experiment in which they bury four objects (apple, lettuce, plastic and styrofoam) in the ground and come back to observe them a month later. They consider what biodegrades and how it affects our planet.
Lab Resource
Royal Society of Chemistry

Electrolysis Using a Microscale Hoffman Apparatus—Microscale Chemistry

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Get big results out of a small-scale lab! Young chemists observe the electrolysis of sodium sulfate using a microscale experiment. A colorful indicator solution combined with the production of gas bubbles yields a variety of observations...
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...
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in a Log

For Teachers K - 3rd
Young scholars identify insects living in rotting logs. In this decomposition lesson, students observe pieces of a rotting log, they look at the insects that have inhabited the log and create a chart that shows their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composting

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students discover the concept of decomposition. They examine how it makes the soil more fertile and how it helps plants. They put a compost bin in their backyard and record their observations.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Stewardship Activities

For Students 5th - 6th
In this ocean pollution worksheet, students read the stewardship activities for ocean pollution. Students list 3 ways to help reduce pollution. Students then draw or write the items in the correct order of decomposition along the timeline.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A MINI LANDFILL

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learners observe the difference between degradable and non-degradable wastes. They create their own landfill in a jar by adding four or five pieces of garbage and then covering it with dirt and water. They make observations on what they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Akron Global Polymer Academy Lesson Plan Format

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify types of garbage that will decompose quickly and the ones that do not.  In this decomposing lesson students observe and record the photo degrading of six pack rings. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Worm Bin Project

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe the decomposing process of the food chain in a worm bin. They observe whether the type of food fed to worms affect the castings given off during the decomposition process. They learn and practice graphing their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Principles Of Composting

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students put items in a plastic bag and watch the effects of composting. While completing the experiment, students answer questions and ask permission to start their own compost pile at home.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solid Waste and Recycling

For Teachers 5th - 7th
In this unit of lessons, students examine solid waste and recycling. They examine the relationship between Native Americans and land. They also decorate bags in which they discover the concept of decomposition.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Organic and Inorganic Waste

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students conduct a scientific investigation about organic or inorganic waste.  In this organic or inorganic waste lesson, students create a compost heap to determine the difference between inorganic and organic waste. Students...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Composting: A Scientific Investigation: California Academy of Sciences

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Garbage, recycle, compost: Does it really matter where we put our trash once we are done? By making detailed observations over seven weeks, kids will see which materials break down naturally to become a healthy part of the soil, and...
Lesson Plan
Chymist

Landfills and Recycling

For Students 9th - 12th
Examine the nature of landfills through experimentation. Scholars build miniature landfills and monitor changes over a six-week period. Observations allow individuals to draw conclusions about the different types of trash and their...