Mystery Science experiment gives students hands-on experience with composting

Here are some future ecologists, for sure!

Amy Sherwood’s fifth-grade class at PBE had a Mystery Science lesson about decomposers. They used earthworms in a two-day, hands-on experiment to see what earthworms prefer as their living environment and what they like to eat.

Six plates sit on a table. On each plate are foods that will be used in a composting experiment - including bread, banana, cheese, orange and apple.

They first set up compost bags in the class – they are actually referred to as “mold terrariums” in Mystery Science. After seeing the food grow mold, they noticed which variables slowed down the process and which sped it up. They determined that foods with preservatives in them didn’t seem to grow mold as fast as the foods without preservatives. Makes sense!

 

Three elementary students work at desks on a project. There is a plate with food on it.

A group of three elementary students work at desks together. On the desk is a plate with food on it, including cheese, bread and apple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students were also able to determine if the worms prefer wet or dry places as well as if they prefer light or dark places. The students were amazed that some worms actually burrowed into the paper towels on their plates in the short time they observed them.

A plastic bag contains a plate with food on it. The food has mold on it.

A plastic bag with two plates in it. The one on top has dirt in it. The one on the bottom has different foods - cheese, bread, banana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A group of three students sit at a table working on a project. On the table is a plate filled with food - bread, cheese, banana and apple slices.Three students sit at a desk working on a project that involves food on a plate and composting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They learned about how worms eat dry leaves and other nutrients in the soil as well as provide fertile soil for our plants to grow. Many students enjoyed watching the worms up close and seeing how they moved. We see some serious composters here!

 

Pine Bush Central School District
State Route 302, Pine Bush, NY 12566
Phone: (845) 744-2031
Fax: (845) 744-6189
Amy Brockner
Interim Superintendent of Schools
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