What Is Biodegradable? - StopWaste

1 IntroductionOverview:Students will watch avideo that introduces theprocess of decomposition ina compost bin or pile. They willclassify found objects collectedon school grounds as biodegrad-able or Background:Items that we use every day aremade from materials that can beclassified as biodegradable or nonbiodegradable. Some of thesematerials such as plastics andmetals are considered non- biodegradable . These materialswill not decompose or biodegradeover a short period of time andwill often remain intact in theenvironment for many years. Incontrast, biodegradable materialssuch as food, plant trimmingsand paper will decompose underideal conditions over a relativelyshort period of time.

2 Composting is a great way toturn biodegradable materials intocompost, a rich soil amendmentfor plants. Air, moisture, andmicrobial activity in a compostbin are essential to the processof decomposition. Whenbiodegradable materials end upin a landfill, they will remainthere for many years because ofa lack of air, moisture and micro-bial activity. One easy way toreduce waste is to compostbiodegradable materials at homeor school. Some cities are evencollecting food scraps and otherorganic materials in curbsidebins usually with plant debris orwood. These materials will getcomposted on a much largermunicipal scale. Materials:Students: Plastic or paper bags (one per group) biodegradable worksheetTeacher: do the rot thing video Examples of biodegradableand nonbiodegradable materials Rubric overhead Rubrics (one per student)Preparation:Collect plastic or paper bagsfrom home or grocery the Do The Rot Thingvideo from ,or call the Recycling Hotline at students into groups ofthree to four (you will need aneven number of groups).

3 VTPuTAOBJECTIVES:Students will:1. define the differences betweenthings that are biodegradable identify five materials that arebiodegradable and five that are :ScienceSKILLS:Analysis, classification, description, problem solvingSETTING:Classroom andOutdoorsTIME:45 minutesVOCABULARY:BiodegradableCompostDe compositionNonbiodegradableWhat Is Biodegradable? LESSON 16: what IS Biodegradable? 133 ACTIVITY134 LESSON 16: what IS Biodegradable? Discussion1. Ask students to name items that get thrown away atschool and at home. Record their suggestions on theboard. Explain that some of the items listed on the boardare biodegradable (circle these items) such as notebookpaper, leaves and food scraps, which means they can easily decay.

4 2. Pass around some examples of biodegradable items. Askstudents whether they can share some examples of itemsthat may not decompose or decay over time. Have stu-dents point out nonbiodegradable items on the board andunderline them. Pass around some examples of nonbiodegradable Ask students whether they use more biodegradable ormore nonbiodegradable Have students share their ideas on how to recyclebiodegradable materials. Explain that these materials canbe recycled through Tell the students that they will learn about biodegradablematerials by watching a video of things decomposing overtime in a compost bin and collecting examples ofbiodegradable and nonbiodegradable materials Show an overhead of the lesson rubric, and review theexpectations for this Show the video Do the Rot the students to watch the video by assigning them to look for the differences between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable materials.

5 2. Lead students in a discussion about the video that willprovide examples of the differences between biodegrad-able and nonbiodegradable. Review and define the con-cepts presented in the video. 3. Organize students into small groups. Assign half of thegroups to take bags outdoors and collect items that theythink are biodegradable , , leaves, twigs, food scraps,etc. The other half will collect items that they think arenonbiodegradable, , metals, plastics, rocks. 4. Pair up small groups (one biodegradable and one nonbiodegradable), and ask the groups to switch bags and examine the examples collected by the other group. For example, students in a group that collectednonbiodegradable items will examine biodegradable itemscollected by another In groups, students will classify the items as biodegrad-able (organic materials from once living organisms) andnonbiodegradable (usually from nonliving origins, such asmetal, rock, etc.)

6 Some items may be moved from one collection into another if there is a group consensus. 6. As a class, discuss examples in each group that were difficult to classify. 7. Ask students how they could test objects to find outwhether they are biodegradable . what evidence wouldthey expect to observe that would indicate that theobject is biodegradable ? For example, what conditions arenecessary for things to decompose (air, water, heat, etc.)?8. Assign students to write a list of at least five items that are biodegradable and five items that are nonbiodegradable. Wrap-Up1. Have students compare and contrast the materials shownin the video to the materials collected outside.

7 Discusssimilarities and Ask the students whether they think they can findmaterials that are biodegradable at home. Discuss ways to recycle these materials such as starting a compost bin. Final Assessment IdeaHave students write a description of the differences between items that are biodegradable versus those that are nonbiodegradable in their own words. RREESSOOUURRCCEESSLESSON 16: what IS Biodegradable? 135 Extensions: Using the Internet, have students research how long it takes biodegradable waste items to decompose if placed in a Materials:California State Content StandardsThe standards below represent broad academic concepts. This lesson provides connections to theseacademic concepts through hands-on activities and exploration.

8 This lesson is not designed for a student to master the concepts presented in the standards. Additional lessons in the classroom that build on thislesson or the standard(s) ensure that students will have the opportunity to master these STANDARDSG rade 4 Life Students know plants are the primary source of matter and energy entering most food Students know decomposers, including many fungi, insects, andmicro-organisms, recycle matter from dead plants and animals. Students know ecosystems can be characterized by their living and nonliving 5 Investigation and Students will classify objects ( , rocks, plants, leaves) in accordance with the appropriate criteria. Teacher136 LESSON 16: what IS biodegradable ?

9 what is biodegradable ? RubricA rubric is a scoring tool that defines the criteria by which a student s work will be rubric is provided to assist you in setting expectations for students and assessing their performanceand engagement during the lesson based on specific tasks. Ideally, a rubric is developed with the cooper-ation of the students. Two blank rows have been provided for you and your class to develop and addyour own assessment identifies five or identifiesfour biodegrad-able identifiestwo to threebiodegradableitems. Student failsto do nonbiodegradableitemsStudent identifiesfive or more identifiesfour identifiestwo to three failsto do thedifferencesbetweenbiodegradableand non-biodegradableitemsStudent clearlydescribes the dif-ferences betweenbiodegradable describessome differencesbetweenbiodegradableand has diffi-culty describingdifferencesbetween bio-degradable failsto do theassignment.

10 LECCI N 16: QUE ES biodegradable ? Describa las diferencias entre las cosas que son biodegradables y no Describa que le pasar a a los art culos biodegradables que est n en su lista si se empiezan a vs. No BiodegradableInstrucciones: Enumere los art culos que son biodegradables y no :Fecha:DEFINICIONES138 LECCI N 16: QUE ES Biodegradable? Vocabulario:Abono:El proceso resultadofinal de organismos vivos quedigieren y reducen materialesorg nicos y los convierten en unaditivo de tierra :Materialesorg nicos que se descomponeno se pudren como la madera,sobras de comida, papel yrecortes de n:Material como hojassecas o papel triturado utilizadopara retener h medad, crearespacios de aire y cubrir lassobras de comida en un sistemade abono de n:El procesode materiales que son digeridosy transformados a sustanciassimples, haciendo las sustanciasnutritivas m s disponibles a lasplantas.