[USCC] compost discovery area

[Berbiglia, Julie (Public Works)]

Here are several ideas we have found to be popular with teachers and
students alike:

Decomposition bag: Provide the materials for kids to make a compost bag
to observe decomposition. This requires a zip lock bag and instructions
to add some greens (grass or weeds), browns (dry leaves), and small
amount of dirt. 

Compost tea bag: Another activity the kids love is to make a compost tea
bag using nylon "footies". The kids would gather up a handful of
compost, place it in the nylon bag and tie a knot to make a bag.
Instructions were provided on how to soak the bag in water and use the
resulting tea on plants.

Bug Hunt: Provide laminated cards with labeled drawings/pictures of bugs
that may inhabit the compost. Have the kids look for the bugs in the
compost heap. You could use this as an indoor activity by bringing in a
bucket of compost to look through.

Compost bingo: On the bingo card have drawings/photos of leaves, grass,
plants, bugs, compost, compost bin, etc. 

Worm bin: A huge favorite and fun fun fun to poke around and find as
many worms as you can. A really fun book is Diary of a Worm by Doreen
Cronin (available from Amazon.com).


Hope this helps! Have fun!


-----------------
Best,
Julie Berbiglia
Metro Beautification & Environment Commission

-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Siebach [mailto:sbach33 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 1:49 PM
To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
Subject: [USCC] compost discovery area

hello!  we are brainstorming for interactive and interpretive activities
we could include at our compost station--part of a larger "outdoor
discovery area" here at the ogden nature center.  does anyone have any
ideas regarding a compost-related activity children could engage in
outside near the compost heap?  materials/activity would need to be
feasible in all weather types...

thanks for any replies!

sarah