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Compost Lesson
If you are looking for how to introduce elementary environmentalists to the process of composting, here is a comprehensive outline for making it happen. The plan is to set this up at the beginning of a school year in order to observe the...
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Garbage in the Garden
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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Sample Midyear Examination (Chemistry and Biology)
A 12-page midterm exam sample can be given to young scientists in preparation for an exam. This particular installment is geared toward a class that delves into both ecology and chemistry concepts. There is no way to separate the 50...
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Organic Matter
Written for an agriculture curriculum, this presentation on organic matter is also informative for gardening or horticulture classes. It details the chemical makeup, affecting factors, functions, maintenance, and composting to create a...
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Pumpkin Time
In these two lessons, science learners participate in various activities involving pumpkins. They investigate and research the life cycle of a pumpkin. They observe pumpkin growth and decomposition. Finally, they estimate and measure...
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Marine Debris
Now is the time to educate tomorrow's citizens to care for the planet, and here is a activity to help facilitate the process. Collect some marine debris and bring it into class. Have your class separate it into types and then test each...
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Composting
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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Casual Patterns in Ecosystems
Ecology explorers or beginning biologists view a time-lapse film of decaying strawberries. They discuss how decomposition occurs and what factors might affect the rate of decay. Alone, the lesson plan is lacking engaging attributes....
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Science: Fossil of a Carbonized Plant
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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Isosceles Right Triangle
In this isosceles right triangle instructional activity, 10th graders solve and complete 5 different constructions of composition and decomposition. First, they make 4 congruent isosceles triangles with the model on the left. Then,...
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Where Does Al the Waste Go?
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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Let's Make a Compost Cake
Students create a compost cake. For this gardening and decomposition science lesson, students review and describe the "nutrient cycle." Students create a compost pile, measure and record the dimensions and temperature of the pile, and...
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A Symphony of Decomposers
Students discover decomposition. In this environmental lesson, students explore different types of decomposers and their role within the ecosystem. Students also discover how waste interferes with the decomposition process.
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Case of the Missing Pumpkin
Learners explore the process of decomposition. In this science lesson plan, students carve a pumpkin and observe as it decomposes. Learners compare the changes to an uncarved pumpkin. Students write about the disappearing pumpkin.
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Forest Decomposition
Students explore decomposition. Students define and describe components of the decomposition process. Students make a composter in a terrarium. Students record observations and changes weekly, drawing conclusions about the results...
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Worm Composting
Second graders discuss worm composting. For this decomposition lesson, 2nd graders look at the anatomy of the worm and how it eats food. They have their own worm bin and review what foods can and can not be given to the worms for...
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Layers of the Forest- Leaf Litter
Young scholars conduct an experiment. In this temperate forest lesson, students discuss what kind of animal life can be found in the forest. They read The Magic School Bus Meets the Rot Squad: A Book About Decomposition and complete an...
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Soil Treasure Hunt
Students explore the concept of soil and decomposition. In this soil and decomposition lesson, students investigate bags of soil. Students then learn how animals and other organisms help in the decomposition process.
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Recycling
Students explore the recycling process. In this recycling lesson, 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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Slow Rot or Not?
Fifth graders examine how environmental factors affect decomposition. In this decomposition instructional activity, 5th graders experiment with the decomposition of grapes in five different environmental settings. They look at images of...
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Types of Chemical Reactions Lab
In this chemical reactions learning exercise, high schoolers experiment with several different reactions and identify each as a single replacement, double replacement, synthesis, decomposition or combustion reaction. Students observe the...
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Let's Build a Worm Bin
Students explore the process of decomposition. In this ecology and measurement activity, students prepare a worm home to be used for vermicomposting. Students weigh a group of worms and the added food, recording this information on a...
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Compost in a Bag!
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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Now You See It, Now You Don't
Students explore organic and inorganic objects. In this environmental lesson students perform a composting experiment using flowers in different soils. Students record their observations.