When we ask students who does composting at home, or at school, it is surprising how many kids have no experience with composting.
At Garapine Outdoor Education Centre, we believe that if children can grow up doing composting as a normal daily activity, then as adults it will be a normal part of everyday life and they will do it for the rest of their lives. Just like the 10 cent container for change program, if children grow up taking their containers in and collecting the money, they will treat it like a normal part of life and do it for the rest of their lives.
Does your school have a compost system?
If your school is not yet doing composting but you are keen for the students to learn… here’s the perfect project they can do to set up their own composting system at school.
If you can’t get the whole school onboard just yet, why not start in just your classroom. Every little bit counts.
Class Project - Setting up a compost system at school
- What do we know about composting?
- What do we not know and how can we find out?
- Where will your compost bin be located at school?
- How will you get the food scraps from the eating area to your compost bin?
- Who will maintain the compost bin? Will you need any help from certain adults? Could the school groundskeeper help? Who will put the scraps in the compost bin and add the dry leaves/grass clippings and how often?
- Will you need a roster of students to empty the buckets/bins?
- What items can go in the compost and how will you tell everyone else at school so they know what can and can’t go in the bin?
- How much will it cost to set up?
- Do you need to get permission from the Principal?
- Using resources from the library or online, collect information to fill in any knowledge gaps.
- Take a walk in the school grounds to find possible locations and decide as a group where the best spot would be.
- In small groups, come up with a plan then share your plan with the class. As a whole class, decide on the best plan.
- In small groups, write down your plan and present it to the class. As a whole class, decide on the best plan. Remember the best plan might be a combination of ideas from different groups.
- Write up a roster for emptying scrap bins and maintaining the compost bin.
- Set up your marketing campaign! Make posters, make signs to go on the buckets and bins, give presentations to other classes.
- Research which bins to buy and how much it will all cost.
- Write a letter to the Principal explaining what you want to do and ask for permission. Don’t forget to ask for some money to buy the bins!
https://www.abc.net.au/btn/resources/teacher/episode/20180501-compostingawareness.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU6kULOUAsw
https://www.teachstarter.com/au/blog/composting-classroom-including-curriculum-links/