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In this activity (page 19 of the PDF) learners will create a soda bottle bioreactor by exploring the science of composting, comparing variables such as reactor design, moisture content, and nutrient ratios of mixtures to be composted. This was created as a post-visit activity for a workshop about garbage and recycling, but is also makes an excellent stand-alone activity.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 to 12 months
- $10 - $20 per student
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- Two 2-liter or 3-liter soda bottles
- One smaller container, about 5-cm high, that fits inside the soda bottle
- One Styrofoam plate or tray
- Drill or nail for making holes (For Teacher Use Only)
- Duct tape or clear packing tape
- Utility Knife (For Teacher Use Only)
- Insulation materials such as sheets of fiberglass or foam rubber, or Styrofoam peanuts
- Fine-meshed screen or fabric large enough to cover top of soda bottle and air holes in bottom half
- Thermometer that will fit into the top of the soda bottle and be long enough to reach down into the center of the compost
- Chopped vegetable scraps such as lettuce leaves, carrot or potato peelings, and apple cores, or garden wastes such as weeds or grass clippings
- Bulking agent such as wood shavings or 1-2 cm pieces of paper egg cartons, cardboard, or wood
- Optional: Hollow tubing to provide ventilation
Subjects
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
-
Technology
- Agriculture and Biotechnology
-
Engineering
-
Life Sciences
-
Ecology
- Human Impact
-
Ecology
Informal Categories
- Food and Cooking
- Nature and Environment
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Cornell Waste Management Institute
Rights:
- All rights reserved, COSI Columbus, 2009