Mrs. Irwin's integrating science in garden restoration |
Decomposing
and COmpost
Decomposers and compost
From the NGSS disciplinary core ideas for Cycle of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems LS2.B: Decomposers recycle nutrients from dead plant or animal matter back into the soil in terrestrial environments.
From the NGSS disciplinary core ideas for Organization of Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms LS1.C: Within individual organisms, food moves through series of chemical reactions in which it is broken and rearranged to form new molecules, to support growth or release energy.
From the NGSS disciplinary core ideas for Organization of Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms LS1.C: Within individual organisms, food moves through series of chemical reactions in which it is broken and rearranged to form new molecules, to support growth or release energy.
A common misconception is that worms and other animals living in soils are decomposers. It is even one that I believed to be true for a while. However, while they are living organisms, they are not animals or plants. In fact, it is easiest to know a little headway on taxonomy to remember that they are separate. There are three domains of life: Bacteria, Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes. Bacteria are one of our decomposers. The other can be found in the Eukaryotes, there are four kingdoms: animals, plants, fungi, and protists. Fungi is our other decomposer. Decomposers break down food and then take in small food molecules for cells to use as building materials or as an energy source.
Difference between Decomposers and Plants/animals
Plants
[food makers] |
Animals
[food takers] ingest mixture (proteins/fats/carbs) w/ enzymes then digest (big food molecules -> small food molecules) * We do not consider worms or centipedes (pictured below) to be decomposers, they are animals. |
Decomposers
[food takers] digest big food molecules into small food molecules before they ingest then ingest (take in) When a decomposer begins to break down a cell, some of the cytoplasm and minerals within spill and are not consumed by the decomposer. Fungus and Bacteria are the decomposers of our garden. |
Compost Infograph
This chart gives an idea of things we can use to create a compost if we feel we need to add more minerals to our garden.
Courtesy of PBS.
Decomposition Activity Lesson resource
When I was growing up, I loved watching and reading the Magic School Bus. I loved Mrs. Frizzle and dreamed about being a part of her class. Through the Scholastic: MSB website, which offers tons of varied types of resources over all themes of science, I have found a resource for turning your own classroom into Mrs. Frizzle's class. The picture below provides a link to a lesson plan that corresponds to the activity done in the Magic School Bus book, All about the Rot.
More about the Authors behind The Magic School Bus.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Chi King