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Lesson One: Problem Identification and Evaluation. 

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The first lesson is related to Problem-Based Learning (PBL), which is going to be used to understand how much knowledge students have of Composting. At this stage, you should know what it is, why it is done and the types of things that can be composted. 

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The lesson intention is going to be looking at different types of composting systems and how they can be utilised. 

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The three types of composting systems are: 

• Worm farms

• Bokashi composting 

• Open-air composting

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For this lesson, the class is going to be divided into three groups, each group will research a different composting system. 

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Within those groups, students will work in either a group of two or three to conduct their research. 

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The topics that student will have to research will be: 

- how does this composting system work?

- what materials are required to create this composting system?

- what is produced when using this composting system?

- investigate how the school can utilise this type of composting system. 

- include a photo and diagram of the type of composting system. 

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Lesson Activity: 

- Students are to create an informative poster that explains and illustrates the type of composting system being researched. (Refer to student samples for an example).

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Useful sources that student can use for research: 

Worm farm: 

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1. https://www.persil.com/uk/dirt-is-good/games/how-to-make-a-worm-farm-for-kids.html

2. https://gardening4kids.com.au/guest-post-worm-farms-for-kids/

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Open aired composting system:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1. https://www.directcompostsolutions.com/8-methods-composting/

 

Bokashi bin composting system:

 

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1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKAUY31_q_s

2. https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/composting/how-to-use-a-bokashi-bin

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Students will present their posters to the class and compare which system would be most effective to help solve their waste problem around the school. Student's will take a vote. 

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***For the purpose of the assessment, the students voted that a worm farm would be most effective. 

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Lesson Two: Design Challenge and Prototyping.

 

Now that students want to implement a worm farm into their school, it is time that they design, build and develop ideas as to how it can be implemented into the school community. 

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As a class, we need to figure out a suitable location for where a worm farm can be kept and monitored. 

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Requirements: 

• Cool dark place

• Undercover 

• Away from Direct Sunlight 

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School Map: 

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X is the selected composting site.

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Students now have to design their own worm farm: 

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Using their iPads, students will use an online graphic tool where students can draw and create a prototype worm farm. They will explore a range of different materials to produce their worm farm. They are encouraged to label their design. (Refer to student samples for an example).

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We also need to brainstorm about what materials we will need for our worm farms.

Students can work in table groups and collate ideas. They will then share ideas with the class, and discuss ideas. 

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Poster time: 

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- To prepare for their worm farm being built students will make posters which they can place around the classroom and school, which informs other students and teachers about the worm farm, what can be placed in the worm farm scrap bins and where they are located. (Refer to student samples for an example).

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- This will help to implement the composting system in order to create a design solution. 

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This will prepare students for the next lesson, which is where they will be building a worm farm as a class. 

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Lesson Three: Development and Implementation. 

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Construction Time!!! 

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As a class, students will now construct the worm farm and implement a system throughout the year level. 

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Students are provided with the materials needed: 

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- Soil 

- worms

- Large, well-insulated and dark container with a lid. Also has a tap for drainage of liquids. 

- Shredded paper

- Collected food scraps from fruit break each day. 

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Students are now given the lesson to collaboratively create their worm farm. 

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For example: 

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Students will now stick their posters around the school and in their classroom and distribute compost collection bins (image below) to year level for during fruit break. Here students will be finalising the composting system to ensure it is a solution to their problem.

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Outcome/ Final product: A Composting System.

 

The final product will be a composting system implemented within the school. part of this system includes the actual composting site, information about its purpose, information as to how other members of the school community can get involved and small composting bins that are distributed throughout the school where students can place their organic food scraps. 

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