7.2 What Decomposes, What Doesn’t
This upper-elementary lesson from Unit 7: Environment (“What Decomposes? What Doesn’t?”) teaches students about decomposition, organic vs. non-organic materials, composting, and recycling. Students bury organic and non-organic items in milk-jug composters to observe decay over one to three months, use almanacs/encyclopedias to classify items, and make recycled paper as an application activity.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- Define decomposition.
- Define organic.
- Demonstrate composting.
- Define recycling.
- Time required
- 50 minutes
- Grade level
- Upper elementary
- Materials
-
- 10 different organic items – leaves, grass, etc.
- 10 different non-organic items, such as plastic
- 2 one-gallon milk jugs
- Scissors
- Shovel
- Writing surface
- Classroom set of almanacs/encyclopedias
- Key Term(s)
- Decomposition, Organic, Recycling