Vermiculture!

Comparing pesticide use in a vermiculture Bin

Engage!

Dump a small amount of appropriate kitchen waste (banana peels, apple cores, squashed grapes, lettuce, coffee grounds etc) on lab tables. Hand out rest of materials after short discussion and build a worm bin

wormbirth.mov

wormbirth.mov

Harvesting!

“Exploring! & Gathering!

of the “Black Gold!”

Explore!

RECORD ALL IN JOURNAL• Periodically analyze samples with

microscope, temperautre, pH probes

• Periodically mas and volume

• Periodically make compost tea and analyze and use as fertilizer

Explain!

• Monthly harvest compost and use as fertilizer

• Concepts/vocabulary related to law of conservation of mass

• Concepts/vocabulary related to flow of energy in an ecosystem and cycling of matter through decay of busy mass

• If not discovered by students the teacher can provide ideas connecting the above concepts.

Elaborate!

• This is a continuing process combined with regular analysis and review of actual applications

• Constantly comparing and contrasting information

Evaluate!

• Many formative opportunities: exit tickets, quizzes, discussions, journal checks

• Further explorations of student developed questions

• Unit test

• STAAR

Additional materials on my website:

Bin instructionsDetailed lessonThis presentationFBMG presentation with the short vids

http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/KFletcher/aug_6_teacher_com.cfm