Compost

This workshop encourages students to engage in creative activities that blend artistic expression with ecological awareness. It also emphasizes the value of using natural materials responsibly and highlights the benefits of composting for a more sustainable future. 

Learning Outcome:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Explore nature's diversity by collecting a variety of natural materials, such as leaves, twigs, stones, and flowers, from their surroundings, and categorize them based on their characteristics.

• Create installations and mandalas by using their collected natural materials to design and construct mandalas, focusing on symmetry, patterns, and aesthetics as a form of creative expression.

• Learn composting principles by understanding the basic principles of composting, including the decomposition process, the importance of organic matter, and the benefits of compost for soil health.

• Craft with compostable materials by experimenting with compostable materials, such as food scraps and biodegradable items, to create environmentally friendly crafts or decorations that can eventually be composted.

• Foster creativity and sustainability, encouraging creativity by combining natural materials and compostable items to produce art that promotes eco-consciousness and sustainability.

• Understand the life cycle by learning about the life cycle of natural materials, from their growth in nature to their decomposition in compost, and discuss how this cycle is essential for the environment.

• Promote environmental stewardship by reflecting on the importance of responsible resource use, recycling, and composting as actions that contribute to a healthier planet.

• Showcase art and eco-friendly crafts by sharing their mandalas and compostable crafts with the school or community to raise awareness about the beauty of nature and the importance of sustainable practices.

Lesson plan

• Explain that macro decomposers are organisms that play a crucial role in breaking down and decomposing dead organic matter in ecosystems. These organisms are relatively large and are typically visible to the naked eye. They feed on dead plants, animals, and other organic materials, breaking them down into smaller particles and eventually returning nutrients to the soil or water. Macro decomposers are an essential part of nutrient cycling in ecosystems and help to recycle organic matter. Earthworms are perhaps the most well-known macro decomposers. They burrow into the soil, feeding on dead leaves and other plant material. As they digest this organic matter, they excrete nutrient-rich castings, which improve soil fertility.

•  Explain why it is important to compost: Composting diverts organic waste from landfills and incinerators. Organic waste in landfills can produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. By composting, we reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and decrease the environmental impact of waste disposal. Compost is a valuable soil amendment. When added to soil, it improves its structure, making it better at holding water and nutrients. Compost also provides essential nutrients to plants, promoting healthy growth and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. Composting recycles nutrients found in organic materials. Instead of allowing these nutrients to go to waste in landfills, they are returned to the soil. This closed nutrient cycle benefits plants and ecosystems. Healthy, well-amended soil resulting from composting often requires fewer pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. This benefits both the environment and human health by reducing chemical runoff into waterways and minimizing exposure to harmful substances. Composting promotes biodiversity in soil by creating a hospitable environment for beneficial microorganisms and earthworms. These organisms improve soil health and help control plant diseases.

•  Explain the different stages of composting, i.e. collection - decomposition - curing/maturation - application.  

• Students create costumes for a scavenger hunt that aims at finding natural material for composting. Wearing the costumes, the group collects composting.

• Explain Wormery and worm juice: A wormery is like a special home for helpful worms, and worm juice is like a special drink for your garden plants. Together, they help recycle your kitchen scraps, make fantastic plant food, and keep your garden happy and healthy! It's like having your own little garden helpers right in your backyard. As the worms eat, they also create something called "worm juice." This juice is a bit like a super-healthy drink for your plants. It's rich in nutrients and helps your plants grow big and strong. Think of it as plant food made by the worms!

• Students create compost cocktails and mandalas for the worms! This allows them to pay tribute to nature. 

• Students create collaborative performance- movements and sound based on act of composting.

• Explain the concept mycorrhiza which is a special partnership that happens underground in the world of plants. It's like a teamwork between plants and tiny fungi. Plants need certain nutrients to grow big and strong. These nutrients are usually in the soil. Plants can't always get these nutrients on their own. That's where the fungi come in. These tiny fungi have very thin threads called "hyphae" that can reach into the soil and grab those nutrients. The fungi don't keep all the nutrients to themselves. They share them with the plants! In return, the plants give the fungi some sugary stuff they make during photosynthesis. It's like a trade. The plants give the fungi candy (sugars), and the fungi give the plants nutrients. This teamwork is a win-win. The plants get the nutrients they need to grow well, and the fungi get their sweet treat from the plants. Plus, the plants can also better resist diseases and stress because of this partnership. Mycorrhiza isn't just good for plants; it's also good for the environment. It helps with soil health and makes it easier for plants to grow in different conditions, like when it's dry or there's not much food in the soil. Mycorrhiza is like a secret handshake between plants and fungi underground. They help each other out, making the world a better place for plants to grow and thrive. It's one of the many amazing ways elements in nature works together to keep everything in balance.

• Allow students to experiment with microscopes and magnifying glass.

• Textile representation of roots and fungi in trees. Use different yarns and threads. Try to recycle or upcycle.

• Reconnect with nature with a mindfulness session