Essential Question
What are two different ways that people dispose of food scraps?
Which is better and why?
5th Grade standard: Life Sciences: 2. Plants and animals have structures for respiration, digestion, waste disposal, and
transport of materials.
Related 4th grade standard: Life Sciences: 2) All organisms need energy and matter to live and grow. As a basis for
understanding this concept:
c. Students know decomposers, including many fungi, insects, and microorganisms, recycle matter from dead plants
and animals.
Related 6th grade standard: Ecology (Life Sciences): 5) Organisms in ecosystems exchange energy and nutrients
among themselves and with the environment. As a basis for understanding this concept: b. Students know matter is
transferred over time from one organism to others in the food web and between organisms and the physical
environment.
•Grade
•7th
Level: 5th
grade standard: 5)The anatomy and physiology of plants and animals
•7) Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.
BAESI July 26-28 2011: SUSTAINABILITY
Collaborators
Holly Walker, Campbell Union Elem.
 Aaron Reaven, WCCUSD
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BAESI July 26-28 2011: SUSTAINABILITY
Summary/ Abstract of Unit
 5th
& 7th grades: Students will study
worms and worm composting, and
explore how any composting system is
part of a sustainable way to grow food.
 Students will also compare this practice
with the prevailing alternative – sending
food scraps and food waste into landfills.
BAESI July 26-28 2011: SUSTAINABILITY
Lesson Outline – 5th Grade



1) Students will study the anatomy of red (compost) worms,
including their excretion of highly bioactive castings. Students
will observe the behavior of red worms and examine their
anatomy.
2) Students will learn how soil quality is improved by the
addition of organic matter (such as worm castings). Students will
create and maintain a worm bin, and feed the worms food
scraps from school lunches.
3) Students will learn about the disadvantages of not
composting when food scraps are sent to landfills. Students will
assemble the elements of a simulated landfill, including food
scraps, and observe what happens over time.
BAESI July 26-28 2011: SUSTAINABILITY
Unit Assessment – 5th grade
Cloze activity to check for worm
vocabulary.
 Students will complete 1-3 worksheets
reporting their observations and/or
measurements during the lab activities
(hands-on, minds-on activities).

Lesson Outline – 7th Grade
Anticipatory set: Ask the question: What
do worms do besides wiggle?
 Include academic language and vocabulary
development of worm anatomy and worm
function for scaffolding.
 Video of how to create an indoor worm
bin.
 Follow Aaron’s 5th grade lesson.

Unit Assessment – 7th grade
Cloze activity to check for worm
vocabulary.
 Unit portfolio : Complete a science log to
include troubleshooting activities during
worm observation.
 Add own questions; similar to KWL for
class to discuss.

BAESI July 26-28 2011: SUSTAINABILITY