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Backyard composting (Grades 8-12)

Grade/Subjects:

  • Grades 9 to 12 Sciences; Social Studies (Environmental)

Topic/Length:

  • Backyard composting 50 mins.

Objectives:

  • To introduce basic concepts about backyard composting and to briefly discuss outdoor composting techniques.

Common Essential Learnings:

  • critical and creative thinking
  • personal & social values

Prerequisite Student Learnings:

  • some basic scientific principles (e.g., life can be found everywhere)
  • previous exposure to composting would be an asset (e.g., home composting)

Methods/Strategies:

  • Set: 5 mins. Introduce basic concepts of backyard composting. Define backyard composting and composting terms.
    • Ask for anecdotes from students (which families compost, students ideas about composting, how students view their local environment.)
  • Development: 
    • 25 mins. PowerPoint composting presentation and discussion and/or viewing the DVD/VCR "Composting on the Prairies" Talk about the information in the presentation while incorporating the use of a compost bin model and imitation 'waste' items
    • 10 mins. Compost exploration and discussion. Talk about and explore basic composting principles.  Students can investigate backyard composting and the ideas behind composting.
  • Closure: 5-10 mins. Review backyard composting concepts and refer to the information that is available in the City's composting guide.

Materials/Resources:

  • PowerPoint presentation of backyard composting
  • VHS/DVD "Composting on the Prairies"
  • Model of compost bin (and imitation food items to 'compost' in the bin)
  • The City of Regina's "Your Guide to Composting"
  • Vermi-composting manuals (e.g., "Pee Wee's Family in a Nutshell", "Pee Wee and the Magical Compost Heap")
  • Waste reduction brochures

Assessment/Evaluation:

  • Nothing formal – question for understanding.

Reflections/Notes:

  • A good lesson for a science class, or a social studies class (Environmental).

  • Use in beginning classes Junior Science or Social Studies with focus on appropriate topics for that particular discipline.