Now We’re Cookin!

Now We’re Cookin!

Chart Your Progress
Lesson: 5.7
Level:
Intermediate
Station: Composting
Format: Experiment
Rating:
Intermediate Lesson 5.7 Now We're Cookin

Lesson Overview

There is a natural progression to the composting process. As the bacteria become more active feeding on the organic material the entire pile heats up. In this lesson, students will chart the thermal fluctuations of the pile from start to finish.

Goals

  • Students will be able to describe why compost heats up and define thermophilic composting.

Outcomes

Students will take periodic temperature measurements of the compost in order to chart the fluctuations from the beginning to end of the process.

Teach the Teacher

Tools & Materials

  • Compost thermometer
  • Steader Journal

Activity

Composting occurs in the natural world without notice. Leaves fall along with pine needles, pieces of bark, and even dead trees. The organic material layers on the forest floor providing habitat for all sorts of creepy crawlers and helps the soil retain moisture under it.

Over time, this organic debris breaks down releasing nutrients back into the soil and providing structure for seed germination and root development. It’s a critical component to the natural cycle of the forest.

But in the corner of nearly every garden is a pile of lawn clippings, brown leaves, and kitchen scraps that is undergoing a similar process of thermophilic composting. As the microbes break down the organic material heat is created and the process super-charges. At the peak, temperatures can reach 160 degrees in the center of the pile.

Using the Steader Journal to record your daily temperature data, create a graphical representation of the thermophilic profile of the composting process from beginning to end.

Related Lessons

Give the Advanced lesson a try now that you’ve completed the Intermediate Lesson! Or revisit the Beginner Lesson as needed.

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