Substances that decompose with the help of living organisms do so at different rates. Scholars experiment with Winogradsky columns to determine the rate of decomposition, the oxygen and sulfide content changes, and bacteria levels. The long-term experiment encourages applying the scientific method. 

Concepts

microbes, ecology, sediment, sulfur, metabolism

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Discuss the role of microbes in landfills and other large waste programs
• Learn about recently discovered microbes that eat plastic

Classroom Considerations

• Experiment designed to accompany the 2012 lecture series titled “Changing Planet: Past, Present, Future”

Pros

• After the initial set up, scholars only need a few minutes each week to continue gathering data
• Designed to meet standards for biology, including AP and IB, environmental science, and microbiology

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.9-10.3 RST.9-10.4 RST.11-12.3 RST.11-12.4