NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
Lesson Plan 1: Composting
NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
Table of Contents
1.0 MATERIALS..................................................................................................................................................1
2.0 ASSESSMENT ACTIVIT...........................................................................................................................1
!.0 ATTENTI"N #RA$$ER..............................................................................................................................1
%.0 LESS"N #"ALS AN& C"NTENT.............................................................................................................2
'.0 (AN&S)"N ACTIVITIES............................................................................................................................!
*.0 P"ST)TEST....................................................................................................................................................%
+.0 PRESENT TA,E)("ME RE-ERENCE MATERIALS . ACTIVIT -"R ,I&S..............................%
/.0 S0PP"RT MATERIALS...............................................................................................................................%
1.0 RE-ERENCES.............................................................................................................................................12
i
NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
1.0 Mate2ials
1. Notebook containing the following:
Lesson plan
Assessment activity and post-test
Reference materials (fact sheet stickers and magnets!
"ake-home hand-o#t for kids
$% R&' of lesson plans post-test and reference materials
(. )lastic bin (available for check-o#t from N*A" personnel! containing + waste
baskets 1 marked ,compost- 1 marked ,recycling- and 1 marked ,trash.-
+. .o# will need to provide e/amples of compostable and non-compostable material in
plastic bags (for e/ample grass leaves food scraps twigs and newspaper!
2.0 Assessment A3ti4it5
Refer to the assessment activity in section 0.1 ,2#pport 'aterial.-
!.0 Attention #2abbe2
Ask the class the following 3#estions:
4#estion: ,5hat are + ways that composting lawn and kitchen waste can improve water
3#ality6-
Answers:
1. $ompost replaces synthetic fertili7ers in people8s lawns that poll#te stormwater
r#n-off with nitrogen and phosphor#s.
(. $ompost improves soil so that water penetrates more easily and stays in the soil
longer. "his red#ces the watering needs of yo#r lawn and garden.
+. $ompost helps protect soil from erosion which means less sediment in r#n-off
waters.
4#estion: ,5hat are some other benefits of composting6-
Answers:
1. $omposting keeps lawn and kitchen waste from filling landfills.
(. 9f yo#r lawn waste is collected by yo#r city yo# are preventing nitrogen-rich r#n-
off from leaves and grass left sitting on the c#rb. .o# also prevent the leaves and
clippings from clogging storm drains. .o# also conserve energy by decreasing the
stops that city vehicles m#st make to collect the waste.
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NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
%.0 Lesson #oals an6 Content
"oday we are going to learn the following:
1. :ow to make a compost bin #sing cheap materials
(. 5hat yo# can compost and what yo# cannot
+. :ow to maintain yo#r compost bin so that yo# can #se the compost for yo#r lawn and
garden
1. 'aking a $ompost ;in:
$ompost bins can be assembled #sing chicken wire (<#st make a cylinder and sec#re the
edges! stacked bricks or concrete blocks (witho#t mortar! = #sed wooden pallets tied
together or planks of wood nailed to = posts.
All compost bins m#st:
- be open on the bottom to allow the composting materials to contact soil
- allow plenty of airflow
$ompost bins sho#ld be no smaller than + feet by + feet and no larger than > feet by >
feet. 9t sho#ld be aro#nd + feet tall? yo# m#st be able to reach inside it to access its
contents.
(. 5hat to compost:
"o promote the break down of organic materials yo# need + things:
1. A good carbon@nitrogen ratio (= parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen!
- 2o#rces of carbon (,browns- or dry hard materials! are dry leaves sawd#st
shredded newspaper hay straw and eggshells.
- 2o#rces of nitrogen (,greens- or wet soft materials! are man#re green plants
grass clippings vegetable and fr#it scraps coffee gro#nds and tea bags.
(. 5ater which yo# add whenever yo# add new dry materials to the pile
+. 'icroorganisms which are introd#ced by adding a few shovelf#ls of dirt to the pile
5hat not to compost:
Leftover cooked food (it attracts animals contains fats and oils that are slow
to break down and contains salt that is harmf#l to plants!
'eats (raw or cooked! and cheeses (they attract animals contain fats and oils
that are slow to break down and contain salt that is harmf#l to plants!
9norganic material like plastic or metal (it won8t break down!
$loth and glossy paper (they take too long to break down and contain
chemicals that are harmf#l to plants !
)et waste (it makes it smell bad and can introd#ce disease!
Living weeds with roots (they may grow in yo#r bin!
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NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
+. :ow to maintain yo#r bin:
1! "#rn the whole pile inside o#t with a hayfork or shovel every month to aerate adding
water as needed to make the whole pile moist like a wr#ng-o#t sponge.
(! "he plant materials sho#ld decompose into compost within = months in warm weather
longer #nder cool or dry conditions. "he smaller the pieces of material the faster they
will compost. 2hred newspaper cr#mble eggshells and dry leaves etc.
+! 5arning signs:
a. 9f the pile is not hot it lacks either nitrogen or moist#re.
b. 9f the pile smells like ammonia it is too wet or too tightly packed for o/ygen
circ#lation.
c. 9f the compost is slow to break down the pieces yo# added may be too large or it8s
too cold o#tside.
=! 5hen the compost looks like dirt remove it from the pile and distrib#te to lawn and
plants in yo#r yard. %istrib#te evenly on top of dirt? don8t let the compost to#ch the stems
of plants (#nless they have bark! beca#se the compost will weaken the str#ct#re of the
stems.
'.0 (an6s)on A3ti4ities
1. $ontact 1 of o#r local partners and set #p a demonstration on composting. Alternatively
contact N*A" personnel abo#t disco#nts (available thro#gh Lowe8s! on composting bin
constr#ction materials and b#ild a bin with yo#r gro#p.
$hristopher "odd Alenn
B$ Ra#lston Arboret#m
N$ 2tate Cniversity
;o/ D>((
Raleigh N$ (DEF>-D>((
)hone: (F1F! >1+-D11>
chrisGglennHncs#.ed#
2andra 5eit7el
North $arolina %epartment of *nvironment and Nat#ral Reso#rces
%ivision of 2oil and 5ater $onservation
Raleigh Regional &ffice
1E(0 '2$ Raleigh N$ (DEFF-1E(0
)hone: (F1F! DF1-=(11
sandra.weit7elHncmail.net
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GREEN TIP: Avoid printing informtion for !t"d#nt!$
In!t#d% !& !t"d#nt! '"#!tion! to d#t#rmin#
()#t)#r t)#* r#m#m+#r t)# ,#!!on mt#ri,$
NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
(. After yo# have presented the lesson goals and information ask st#dents to come 1 at a
time. *ach st#dent m#st choose an item from the bag and decide whether the item sho#ld
be placed in the trash bin recycle bin or compost bin. As each st#dent chooses ask the
class for inp#t.
"o prepare for this activity make s#re that items are in a brown paper bag before the class
begins and that the bins are placed in a visible location at the front of the classroom.
5hen the activity is complete and all items have been p#t in a bin move on to the review
activity.
*.0 Post)test
)ass o#t the post-test and have st#dents complete it individ#ally or in gro#ps. Refer to the
post-test in section 0.1 ,2#pport 'aterial.-
$lose the lesson by saying:
$omposting is a cheap and f#n way to improve water 3#ality and care for yo#r lawn and
garden witho#t costly fertili7ers.
$omposting will save yo# money on fertili7ers lawn waste collection (if yo# pay for it in
yo#r city! and potting soil.
+.0 P2esent Ta7e)(ome Refe2en3e Mate2ials . A3ti4it5 fo2 ,i6s
1! )ass o#t reference materials and take-home hand-o#t for kids.
(! Ask for 3#estions from the participants.
/.0 S8ppo2t Mate2ials
1. Assessment Activity
(. )ost-"est
+. "ake-:ome Reference 'aterials (available on $%-R&'!
- $ompost 'agnet
- *asy $ompost ;in $onstr#ction )lans
=. "ake-:ome Activity for Iids
-
GREEN TIP: In!t#d of p!!ing o"t pp#r for #.)
!t"d#nt% *o" .n )v# !t"d#nt! !)r# t#!t or *o"
.n r#d t)# '"#!tion! ,o"d nd )v# !t"d#nt!
n!(#r v#r+,,*$
NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
Assessment A3ti4it5
1. ;efore class draw a "-chart on a large piece of paper and hang it on a wall. Label 1 side
of the chart ,advantages- and the other side ,disadvantages.- 9f yo# have a black board or
a whiteboard save paper and #se that instead.
A%JAN"AA*2 %92A%JAN"AA*2
(. Ask N*A" members to offer either advantages or disadvantages to composting.
+. Record each answer in the appropriate col#mn.
=. *nco#rage members to talk abo#t why they haven8t tried compost bins in the past. 5hat
are the hassles6
>. &nce all members have offered additions to the "-chart disc#ss the res#lts.
a. 2ay each advantage and disadvantage o#t lo#d asking st#dents for e/tra inp#t.
b. )romote disc#ssion abo#t the topics
/
NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
Post)Test
1. $ompost bins can be assembled #sing
a. chicken wire.
b. stacked bricks or concrete blocks.
c. = #sed wooden pallets tied together.
d. planks of wood nailed to = posts.
e. all of the above.
(. "here sho#ld be absol#tely no air flow inside a compost bin.
a. "r#e
b. Kalse
+. "he largest a compost bin sho#ld be is
a. > feet by > feet.
b. 11 feet by 11 feet.
c. 1> feet by 1> feet.
d. abo#t the si7e of a school b#s.
=. 5hich of the following is not a compostable item6
a. *ggshells
b. $heese
c. Jegetable and fr#it scraps
d. $offee gro#nds
>. 9f yo#r compost pile is cold then it has the perfect amo#nt nitrogen and moist#re.
a. "r#e
b. Kalse
E. %istrib#te compost on top of dirt making s#re it does not to#ch the stems of plants.
a. "r#e
b. Kalse
D. "o promote the break down of organic materials in yo#r compost bin yo# need
a. water and carbon dio/ide.
b. dirt formaldehyde and raw meet.
c. a good carbon@nitrogen ratio water and microorganisms.
d. pet waste living weeds and cheese.
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NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
Post)Test Ans9e2s
1. $ompost bins can be assembled #sing
a. chicken wire.
b. stacked bricks or concrete blocks.
c. = #sed wooden pallets tied together.
d. planks of wood nailed to = posts.
e. all of the above.
(. "here sho#ld be absol#tely no air flow inside a compost bin.
a. "r#e
b. Kalse
+. "he largest a compost bin sho#ld be is
a. > feet by > feet.
b. 11 feet by 11 feet.
c. 1> feet by 1> feet.
d. Abo#t the si7e of a school b#s.
=. 5hich of the following is not a compostable item6
a. *ggshells
b. $heese
c. Jegetable and fr#it scraps
d. $offee gro#nds
>. 9f yo#r compost pile is cold then it has the perfect amo#nt nitrogen and moist#re.
a. "r#e
b. Kalse
E. %istrib#te compost on top of dirt making s#re it does not to#ch the stems of plants.
a. "r#e
b. Kalse
D. "o promote the break down of organic materials in yo#r compost bin yo# need
a. water and carbon dio/ide.
b. dirt formaldehyde and raw meet.
c. a good carbon@nitrogen ratio water and microorganisms.
d. pet waste living weeds and cheese.
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NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
Compost Magnet
T82n t:e (eap Sti37e2s
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NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
Eas5 Compost $in Const283tion Plans
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NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
Ta7e)(ome A3ti4it5 fo2 ,i6s
Mate2ials
*ither s#ggested reading
)aper c#p
2cissors
"oothpick
Kork
Assortment of candy to represent composting materials:
- &reos (for dirt!
- )#dding (for m#d!
- R#nts (fr#it!
- A#mmy worms (earth worms!
- 2wedish Kish (fish!
- $adb#ry $ream *gg (egg shells!
S8ggeste6 Rea6ing
Compost, By Gosh! by 'ichelle *va )ortman
Wiggling worms at Work by 5endy )feffer
A3ti4it5
1. $r#sh #p the &reos on a plate and create a thin layer over the s#rface of the plate. */plain
that the &reos represent dirt.
(. $#t o#t the bottom of the paper c#p. */plain that in order to make a compost pile the
composting materials m#st have contact with the soil.
+. Cse the toothpick to poke holes is the c#p. */plain that a compost bin needs plenty of
airflow.
=. )#t the paper c#p on top of the &reo layer. */plain that now that we have created o#r
compost bin we need to fill it with composting materials.
>. Aive each child p#dding r#nts g#mmy worms and 2wedish fish.
E. */plain what each represents. Ask children if they think it sho#ld go in the composting
bin.
D. )#t composting materials in the c#p and non-composting materials to the side.
Composting Mate2ials Non)Composting Mate2ials
&reos (for dirt! 2wedish Kish (fish!
)#dding (for m#d!
R#nts (fr#it!
g#mmy worms (earth worms!
$adb#ry $ream *gg (egg shells!
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NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
0. &nce yo# have placed all composting materials in the paper c#p tell children to t#rn the
candy over with their fork. */plain that a compost pile m#st be t#rned once a month so
that air can get in and break down the materials.
F. *nco#rage kids to keep t#rning the materials with their fork. 5hen the candy looks well
mi/ed in the p#dding e/plain that the compost becomes dirt for the gardenL
11. Now kids can eat the candy mi/t#reL
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NEAT LESSON PLANS
LESSON #1: COMPOSTING
1.0 Refe2en3es
"he Jirginia $ooperative */tension: 'aking $ompost from .ard 5aste
http:@@www.e/t.vt.ed#@p#bs@envirohort@=(E-D1+@=(E-D1+.htmlML(
$ity of Arlington: ;ackyard $omposting
http:@@www.ci.arlington.t/.#s@
[email protected]Jeg5eb: $ompost A#ide
http:@@vegweb.com@composting@
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