Activity 24: Nature’s Recyclers
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It’s amazing how many organisms live off dead organic material and recycle those materials back into life. In this inquiry-based activity, your students will devise an experiment to investigate the eating habits of one of these creatures. They will gain both an understanding of how decomposition works and an appreciation for some of nature’s less-heralded organisms.
This is one of 96 activities that can be found in PLT’s PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide. To get the activity, attend a training either in person or online and receive PLT’s PreK-8 Guide.
The PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide is a supplementary curriculum that is multi-disciplinary, with an emphasis on science, reading, writing, mathematics, and social studies.
Each activity displays explicit connections to practices and concepts expected by the following national academic standards so teachers can easily see where the materials will fit into their lesson plans:
- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- Common Core Toolkit, includes
- English Language Arts (CCSS.ELA)
- Mathematics (CCSS.MATH)
- College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies (C3)
Our professional development further demonstrates these connections, as well as to state and local standards, contact your state coordinator.
STEM: Nature’s Recyclers
Decomposers live off dead material and recycle nutrients into the soil for reuse by plants. These STEM activities teach students about producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Trout Are Made Of Trees
Trout Are Made Of Trees Grades K to 2 ISBN-13: 978-1580891387 Charlesbridge, 2008 Authored by April Pulley Sayre Illustrated by Kate Endle Recommended Reading Leaves and bacteria, insects and fish, bears, and people, too—are all a part of one big circle of growing and eating and living. This book’s simple and engaging text explains... Read more »
Nature Recycles, How About You?
Nature Recycles, How About You? Grades K-5 ISBN: 9781607186274 Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2013 Authored by Michelle Lord Illustrated by Cathy Morrison Recommended Reading Nature Recycles is an ideal book to introduce reuse and recycling to young children. By showcasing the various methods animals use to repurpose materials in their natural habitats, this book provides... Read more »
Around One Log
Around One Log: Chipmunks, Spiders, and Creepy Insiders Grades PreK-3 By Anthony D. Fredericks Illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio ISBN: 1584691379 Recommended Reading Years after a great oak tree tumbles to the ground, a whole community of animals have made it their home. Upon close inspection, the fallen tree is seething with life! Question: Is... Read more »
EE Resources
Dirt with Sid the Science Kid
Dirt on Dirt, an episode of Sid the Science Kid produced by PBS Kids, explores what makes dirt, dirt! In this episode, Sid and his friends learn about the different types of soil. Paired with a Dirt on Dirt Activity, students ages PreK-2 can follow Sid’s adventure and investigate the dirt and soil on their school... Read more »
Ag Across America
Ag Across America is an online geography game for grades 3-5. With this game, students will learn more about how farms provide our food, fiber, and energy. The game guides students through a series of video and trivia questions about farms across the U.S. When you answer correctly, players collect items to have on their own... Read more »
Pee Wee Meets the Pollinators
This illustrated children’s story takes students on an adventure to a rooftop garden to learn about the amazing work of pollinators. Witness the birth of a monarch butterfly, follow a bee, and meet a chorus of crickets. The book also contains poems, songs as well as additional notes to benefit teachers, parents, and children. To... Read more »
NatureWorks Video Series
Discover the natural world and the connections that make nature work in this 16-part video series for students in grades 3-6. Developed and produced by New Hampshire Public Television and the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, each episode is fifteen minutes long and helps students explore the ways living things interact with the environment. NatureWorks... Read more »
U.S. Composting Council
All types of composting from backyard to large-scale, community-wide composting are discussed by the U.S. Composting Council. Visit their Web site for a list of composting activities and resources.
Web Soil Survey from the USDA
This is a website that contains the web soil survey from the USDA.
Unlock the Secrets in the Soil
Check out the infographic from the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service! These infographics colorfully illustrate soil health: what soil is made of, what’s underneath, and what it does.
SoilWeb
A free app that can be downloaded onto Apple and Android devices. A more technical application, SoilWeb allows users to access GPS based, real-time USDA-NRCS soil survey data. Using your geographic location, this app retrieves soil type summaries, including soil series names and image profiles.
WildLab Bird
A free app that can be downloaded onto any Apple device (try iBird Lite for Android). Use WildLab Bird to learn the basics of bird identification. This application uses audio, photographs, maps, and the process of elimination to help identify over 200 bird species. Sightings can also be entered into a national bird watching database for... Read more »
NACD’s Soil Education Resources
Have a look at NACD’s soil resources: Soil to Spoon and Dig Deeper: Mysteries in the Soil. Existing tools feature a poster contest, student booklets, educator guides, and ideas for hands-on activities.
Invasive Paper Project
The Invasive Paper Project travels throughout Detroit to offer papermaking demos and workshops with invasive plants (like Phragmites, Honeysuckle, Garlic Mustard) that have been removed from city parks, lots, and green spaces in many different communities. This project creates community awareness about invasive plant species and their effects on local ecosystems, while also providing an... Read more »
Recycle City
EPA’s Recycle City’s interactive website showcases an interactive map, scavenger hunt, and game that all explore ways homes and businesses can recycle, reuse, or reduce waste. Use this website to spark interesting discussions around waste and recycling in places and spaces where students can have direct impacts.
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