Leaf
It in Your Yard
Related Resources
Note: The following resources are recommended for Team Research Folders: Spencer's Team News, Forest Park Environmental Awareness, and Mastercomposter.com
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Leaf
It in Your Yard Note: The following resources are recommended for Team Research Folders: Spencer's Team News, Forest Park Environmental Awareness, and Mastercomposter.com |
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Web Links
Science for Ohio's Composting Virtual Tour takes you step-by-step through the process of setting up and maintaining a compost pile. Click on the icon above.
Harcourt School Publishers offers three interactive activities for students. In Soil Composition, students learn about the different layers of soil. In Soil Formation, students order images to show the soil formation process. In Composting, students decide whether selected resources should be composted or recycled. Note: If you have an older browser, you may need to download Macromedia Shockwave to view movies.
The Forest Park Environmental Awareness Program has developed recycling and yardwaste pages. These pages offer concise, pertinent, and practical information about recycling and composting. Click on the icon above to visit this site. Once at the site, scroll down to "Yardwaste."
Spencer's Team News Kid's Edition: Composting, produced by the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, contains valuable composting information. It is available in online (low resolution, color) and printable (high resolution, grayscale) formats.
www.mastercomposter.com is one of the most comprehensive Internet sites for composting. It even supplies a composting search engine. Click on the web address above.
Hamilton County Environmental Services offers resources and programs on composting for Hamilton County teachers and residents. Click on the icon above.
www.earthmachine.com markets a high quality composter with a booklet of tips on composting. Truckload sales in your area can reduce the cost of purchasing a bin from $80+ to around $25. Click on the web address above.
Earthworms by Scott Hudson is a great sing along song to reinforce the concept of decomposition. Scott teaches science for Cincinnati Public Schools.
The Benefits of Composting by Mike Wright and John Farmer offers compelling reasons why everyone should compost. Click on the icon above.
Food Web of the Compost Pile is a visual aide for use in teaching about food webs and energy pyramids. Source: Worms Eat Our Garbage. Adapted with permission from Dr. Daniel Dindal. Click on the icon above for an image in pdf format. Click here for a gif image |
Books and Other Resources
Re-Cycles by Michael Elsohn Ross takes readers on a visual journey to discover the life cycle of a tree, the water cycle, and the soil decomposition (compost) cycle. These three stories can be read individually or together to stress the theme of cycles. An excellent read aloud for the elementary classroom. ISBN 0-7613-1818-6
Compost Critters by Bianca Lavies has wonderful close-up photos and text to illustrate the small consumers that can be found in any environment where matter is cycling back to soil. A good book for informal student reference. It can also be used as a read aloud (selected pages only) when students find critters and the class wants to know more. ISBN 0-525-44763-6
Wiggling Worms at Work by Wendy Pfeffer beautifully explains the benefits, behavior, and anatomy of worms in a way that children of all ages can understand. A wonderful read-aloud for the elementary classroom. ISBN 0-06-028448-X
Turtle Spring by Deborah Turney Zagwyn makes a wonderful, though indirect, connection to composting. Clee's new baby brother, a new pet turtle, a compost pile, and the coming of spring weave together in a heartwarming story of new beginnings. ISBN 1-883672-53-8
A Log's Life by Wendy Pfeffer uses lyrical text and paper sculpture art images to illustrate animal interactions in the cycling of an oak tree back to soil. An excellent classroom read aloud book. ISBN 0-689808063-61
Dirt Boy by Erik Jon Slangerup tells the witty story of Fister Farnello, who hates to be clean until he has some unexpected adventures which change his mind. A light-hearted read-aloud which challenges students to make connections while using their imaginations. ISBN 0-8075-4424-8
A Handful of Dirt by Raymond Bial uses vivid photographs to illustrate the beauty and complexity of the soil beneath our feet that we take for granted everyday. A great nonfiction read-aloud. ISBN 0-8027-8699-5
Squirmy Worm Composters by Bobbie Kalman and Janine Schaub illustrates the related topic of vermicomposting using photographs of kids as they investigate vermicompositing at school. ISBN 0-86505-555-6
Worms Eat Our Garbage: Classroom Activities for a Better Environment by Mary Appelhof, Mary Frances Fenton and Barbara Loss Harris uses over 150 worm-related activities to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in children graded 3-8; integrates science, mathematics, language arts, biology, solid waste issues, ecology and the environment. ISBN 0-942256-05-0
Worms are a Class Act by Cori Kyle provides classroom activities and information related to vermicomposting. ISBN 0-9681630-0-9
Bobby Trombly is a composting
and vermicomposting consultant who offers presentations to schools and
community organizations. To schedule a consultation or presentation,
contact her at: |
