Discover Recycling with Compost School Science Projects

Compost school science projects offer science teachers the opportunity to demonstrate a multitude of science concepts with a single year long project. In order to get the maximum benefit from a compost project you need to start it as soon as possible. Fall is the best time to start, but if you are reading this article in winter or early spring, then early spring is also a great time to start a compost project.

Young Scientists Club Set 2	EDU 7074 Weather Station Science Kit	Power House Experiments Science Kit	Experiment with Microbes in the Soil
Ages 5 -8	Age 8 and up	Ages 12 thru High School	Age 10+

Before compost school science projects can begin, the topic of composting needs to be covered in the classroom. Composting is a complex process that is simple to do. It basically mimics what Mother Nature does naturally. It involves the accumulation of biodegradable materials and the aerobic breakdown of these organic materials. Concepts that will need to be covered include: biodegrading, the difference between organic and inorganic materials, decomposition, biomass and ecosystems.

After your students have an understanding of what composting is, the next step is to design the type of composting projects you want to perform. You can create one large composting pile that the entire class or school is responsible for, or you can create several smaller composting projects that are assigned to single classes or groups of students. When setting up your composting projects make sure the area is far enough away from the school that the smell doesn't pose a problem. The area also needs to be in a sunny area that is well drained.

The mixture of organic materials that you dump into your composting pile is going to impact how effective the decomposition process will be. To get the best results you will want to create a compost mixture that is made up of one part nitrogen rich materials, also referred to as "greens," and 25 parts carbon rich materials, which are referred to as "browns."

Green Compost Materials

Brown Compost Materials

After you have your compost project(s) set up there are several different sub-projects that you can complete as the composting project progresses.

Compost school Science projects are great for exploring a myriad of science concepts. They open the door to more environmental pollution science fair projects.