Compost Flower Pot
Age level: Grades K-6
Class length: ~15 minutes
Learning Objectives:
1. Explore new ways to “close the loop” by reusing materials
(newspaper pots)
2. Understand ways that compost affects soil mineral nutrition
3. Comprehend how the above change in mineral nutrition affects plants
I. Materials:
Newspaper
Paper Pot Makers, one/child
Compost
Potting soil
Soil scoops
Seeds
Permanent markers
Plastic plant flats
Seedlings growing in compost amended soil
Seedlings growing in soil without compost
II. Preparation
Tear newspaper into 3.5” x 10” or longer strips, making sure to go
along the “grain” of the paper. (If newspaper does not easily tear
into strips, the grain is 90 degrees off.)
In a large container, mix soil and compost in a 3:1 ratio, respectively.
(Or, wait and mix the compost and potting soil with the students.)
III. Introduction
Discuss how compost can benefit plants in the following ways:
· Soil permeability
· Water holding capacity
· Nutrient availability
Demonstrate how to make paper pots, discussing ways to recycle and reuse materials.
IV. Activity
Have students observe the seedlings grown in compost-amended soil versus
those grown in un-amended soil (don’t tell them which is which).
Discuss how the seedlings differ in appearance. Ask the students which
plants they think were grown with compost and how they came to that conclusion.
If not done beforehand, have students mix potting soil and compost at a
3:1 ratio.
Each student makes a paper pot and labels it with his/her name using
a marker before filling the pot with a mix of compost and soil. Students
then each plant two seeds of their choice. Talk about what will happen
to the paper pot over time and why.
Discuss what a plant needs to survive, and how some of those needs
(soil, water) will contribute to the decomposition of the paper pot.
Place all pots in a plastic flat for easier transport back to school.
Remind students to water the seeds when they return to the classroom.
Instruct them to keep the pot moist at all times – if the newspaper pot
is dry, then the soil is too dry. When they plant it outside or into a
larger pot, be sure to bury the newspaper pot.
Decomposition Tour
Age level: Grades K-6
Class length: ~30 minutes
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize various stages of decomposition
2. Understand the difference between green & brown material
3. Understand that all organic matter decomposes
I. Materials
Plastic strawberry baskets (mini compost bins)
Film canisters connected to strawberry baskets (mini trash/recycle
cans)
List of scavenger hunt items printed on recycled paper (laminate
for re-use)
Trowel
Rotting logs placed throughout grounds (good decomposer habitat)
Small bag for trash
II. Activity – Tour & Scavenger Hunt
Pass out the list of scavenger hunt items and mini compost bins before
touring the grounds. (For younger students, go over items to be collected
and just pass list of scavenger hunt items to teachers/adult chaperones.)
Guide the students on a walk around the grounds as they collect the items listed to build their own mini compost pile. Emphasize that they should not step off of the paths, unless you instruct them to do so. Explain that they are not to pick flowers or plants unless given permission. Look for and talk about leaf litter, mulch around plants, mulch on paths, green material vs. brown material, etc. Talk about what types of materials will not decompose. If they find non-compostable items, instruct them to place them in the mini trash/recycling can (film cannister). Assist the students in their search for “browns” and “greens” and decomposers (bugs!) If no decomposer bugs can be found, use the trowel to dig a small amount of soil to add to their bins. Discuss the millions of microorganisms that live in the soil that assist the bugs and slugs in breaking down organic matter.
Questions you might ask the students:
“What is the path mulch made of? Will it last indefinitely like
a stone path?”
“We don’t rake up the leaves in the wildflower garden – why isn’t it
totally covered in old leaves that have accumulated over the years?”
“Why is it important to have both green and brown material in the compost
pile?”
Conclude tour at the compost bins. Review the items that were found on the scavenger hunt. Collect the non-decomposables and discuss whether or not they can be recycled. Have students empty the contents of their mini compost bins into the large compost pile.
Compost Tea Bags
(To take back to classroom)
Age level: Grades K - 6
Class length: 20 - 30 minutes
Learning Objectives:
1. Reinforce a lesson about compost from a prior session.
2. Compare the benefits of watering with compost tea vs. water.
3. Understand how to extract soluble nutrients from compost for
use indoors.
I. Materials:
Finished and screened compost
Colored markers for drawing
Gloves, socks or cloth bags to use as tea bags
Funnels made from top portion of plastic bottles
Dowels for compacting compost into gloves, etc.
Wire or sturdy ribbon or string to tie tea bags
Bottom portion of a plastic bottle to demonstrate
soaking the tea bag
Example plants watered with tea vs. water (Or picture
of rooted plant)
II. Introduction:
Ask students if they would want to take compost,
with all the bugs, indoors to use on house plants. Ask if they can
think of some way to bring in the nutrients in compost and control the
bugs. Introduce and discuss the following terms:
* Compost tea
* Compost tea bags
* Solubility
* Extraction
III. Activity
Ask each student to draw a picture on the tea bag
of something they have learned about composting (bug, green plant, leaf,
etc.) or have them put their names on their tea bags. Have each student
pack as much compost as they can in the tea bag using the funnel and a
dowel. Tie the tea bag at the top.
Demonstrate how to put the tea bag in a container using the bottom portion of a plastic bottle. Point out recycling aspects of plastic bottle. Explain that any container large enough will do. Explain that they can do that and add water at home. Explain that the water will take on a slightly brown color after a day or two and that they can use that to water indoor plants and get some of the benefits of compost without the bugs. (Show picture of a plant rooted in compost tea vs. water or plants watered with compost tea vs. water.)
Explain that they can add more water to keep the
container full as long as they still get a slightly brown color.
When they have finished with the tea bag it can be added to the compost
pile or put directly into the garden. The insoluble nutrients still
in the compost and any bug eggs will be good for the garden.