+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Wrapped Up

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Pupils work in teams to identify and sort types of packaging used in food production. They consider ways to reduce the environmental impact of packaging and reflect how consumer choices play a role in trash production.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Shoult it Go?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students label boxes and sort trash into those items that can be recycled, composted, incinerated or taken to the landfill.
+
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

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.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composting

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders collect data from Bottle Biology compost columns and record using Excel spreadsheet.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Worm Composting: Vermiculture

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Pupils compost in a limited space and describe the decomposing process. Students convert unwanted, organic matter, particularly food scraps and paper into fertile soil.
+
Website
Cornell University

Cornell University: Cornell Composting: The Science and Engineering Composting Composting

For Students 9th - 10th
This clickable web page is like an outline that comprehensively covers the science of composting. Each link takes you to another section of notes.
+
Unknown Type
Cornell University

Cornell University: Cornell Composting: Compost Quiz Game

For Students 9th - 10th
Here are thirteen questions with complete explanations to see how much you know about composting.
+
Website
Cornell University

Cornell University: Cornell Composting: Why Composting?

For Students 9th - 10th
This article describes the advantages and opportunities that can be utilized by composting in schools. Biology, chemistry, and physics can all be explored with simple schoolyard composting.
+
Website
Cornell University

Cornell University: Cornell Composting: Composting in Schools

For Students 9th - 10th
Composting in schools, what's the value in it? Not only will it reduce your waste, it is a great science project. Try it out and learn how the earth "feeds" itself.
+
Handout
eSchool Today

E School Today: Your Cool Basics on Natural Resources

For Students 4th - 7th
Looks at the two categories of natural resources, what they are used for, their distribution around the world, threats to natural resources, recycling and composting, and conservation.
+
Website
PBS

Pbs: Independent Lens: Dirt! The Movie

For Students 9th - 10th
'Dirt the Movie' is an independent film about the importance of soil, how it is affected by things like climate change and pollution, and how we can learn to take better care of it. The site features video clips from the film, articles...
+
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Decomposing Energy: Heat Energy From Compost

For Students 9th - 10th
In this energy and power science fair project, the student will calculate the heat energy produced by an active compost pile, surrounding a tin can filled with water. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning...
+
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: The Big Dig

For Students 3rd - 5th
Even though many cities have recycling programs, a lot of trash still ends up in the dump. Find out which materials will break down and which materials won't. Will the results of this experiment change which products you often buy?
+
Lesson Plan
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Tceq: Lesson Plans & Resources for Teaching Environmental Sciences [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
A large collection of lesson plans on environmental topics. The lessons are broken up into the broad categories of air, water, and waste, and look at issues around quality, pollution, conservation, and recycling. There are activities for...
+
Graphic
Other

Molecular Movies: 3 D Tutorials for Biologists

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of visualization-oriented tutorials for creating 3D animations for use in your biology classroom. Search by difficulty level, software package, or 3D topic area.
+
Handout
Texas A&M University

Aggie Horticulture: Kinder Garden: School Gardens

For Students 3rd - 5th
Get all the information needed to begin and maintain a school garden and a composting program. Features include step-by-step slide shows for creating a school garden or compost program.
+
Website
Other

Institute for Local Self Reliance

For Students 9th - 10th
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance is an organization that provides technical assistance to communities about local solutions for sustainable community development in areas such as banking, broadband, energy, and waste through local...
+
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Composting Competition

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In a multi-week experiment, students monitor the core temperatures of two compost piles, one control and one tended, to see how air and water affect microbial activity.
+
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Dome It Challenge Scenario Cards

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Student teams find solutions to hypothetical challenge scenarios that require them to sustainably manage both resources and wastes.
+
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Land, Waste, and Cleanup Topics

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is loaded with information on solid waste and hazardous waste. It includes industries' effects on the environment, waste programs, treatment, control, pollution prevention, recycling, and cleanup programs.
+
Article
Other

Nrdc: Composting Is Way Easier Than You Think

For Students Pre-K - 1st
The NRDC breaks down how to easily achieve at-home composting. Find out what can and cannot be composted.
+
Website
Other

New Brunswick Waste Management /"Backyard Magic"

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive description of the environmental benefits of composting solid waste. Complete directions for composting, detailed description of composting chemistry, suggestions for applications of humus, question and answer page,...
+
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Biorecycling: Using Nature to Make Resources From Waste

For Teachers 5th - 8th
By studying key processes in the carbon cycle, such as photosynthesis, composting, and anaerobic digestion, students learn how nature and engineers biorecycle carbon.