Organic waste is a hot topic. The second of three installments in the Bioreactor Water Heating unit challenges pupils to create bioreactors that collect energy released from compost. After watching videos on the properties of water and on composting, they choose a variable to test for their bioreactors and measure how well it heats water.

Concepts

energy, composting, organic material, thermal energy, temperature changes

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Instructional Ideas

• Have the class keep science journals or notebooks to record observations and data
  

Classroom Considerations

• Lesson requires composting materials; see resource for a complete list
  
• Prior preparation by the instructor is necessary
• Data collection occurs over the course of several weeks
  

Pros

• Provides links to websites for additional information
• Includes a rubric for the activity
  

Cons

• None