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E-53
E.T. A LOCAL WAY OF LEARNING
DECOMPOSITION
Leslie Repp
Eulalie R. Rivera Elementary School
4
Grade Level:
Concepts:
2. Ecosystem
6. Resources
9. Change
Disciplines:
1.Science
2.Social Studies
3.Mathematics
Objective:
The student shall see what happens to animals after they die and demonstrate
that the products of decomposition enrich the soil by growing plants in the same
soil. Student shall learn some anatomy from the bones.
Rationale:
Decomposition is one leg of the energy cycle; producers
(plants), consumers (animals), and decomposers CO such as soil
bacteria and larger soil animals (ants, earthworms, etc.) that
serve to break down and return to the cycle the N, P and K--
Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium needed for plant growth."
Materials Needed:
pc c
1 producers
Cans of soil, small shovel, dead animals, seeds.
Directions:
Take soil from one spot in the yard. Place equal amount into two similar
containers (can, pot, etc.). Bury a dead animal in one container. Leave second
container with soil only. The animal might be a lizard, frog, fish, bird,
mouse, mongoose or a classroom pet that died. Uncover the animal at monthly
intervals and note changes. 14hen total decomposition takes place, remove the
skeleton and determine various body parts Plant an easy to grow seed
flamboyantn, beans, etc.) in each of the containers. Treat them identically
and make a chart of differences in plant growth.
Upon completion of lesson/activity, discuss with children how nature continually
recycles itself decomposed fruit, plants, leaves, animals adding nutrients to
the soil for new growth.
Teacher Reference:
LSIM Movie XLSI 50 "The Dead Bird?
Title:
Author:
Activity Charting:
E.T.
NAME:
E-53
DECOMPOSITION
CONTAINER "A" (Animal) CONTAINER "B" (NO Animal)
Date soil placed in container Date soil placed in container
Date dead animal placed in container (Place this container along side "A",
water the same as container "A".)
(Place in protected area and expose to During the period of decomposition of
sunlight water periodically) container "A", was there any growth or
change in container "B"?
Date container checked for degree of Record:
decomposition
Describe appearance
Date animal decomposed, but for
skeleton
Date seed planted in container "A" Date seed planted in container "B"
(Same plant seed in both) (Same plant seed in both)
Type of plant seed Type of plant seed
Date plant seed sprouted Date plant seed sprouted
Draw picture of growth after two weeks: Draw picture of growth after two weeks:
Describe plant growth in detail after Describe plant growth in detail after
four weeks: four weeks:
What is the reason for differences in plant growth between the two containers?
Explain on the other side.
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