Vermicomposting & Teaching with GardensA mini environmental science workshop from Project DEEPLacey S. Fitts, Science Education Instructor, Delta State University

Project DEEP

• Delta Environmental Education Program – funded by the EPA• Emphasis on food webs and relationships between systems• Two weeks, intensive environmental science workshop for

Delta-area middle school science teachers• Chemistry, Microbiology, Parasitology, Gardening, Geology,

Water quality, Ecology

You can use the resources from the workshop:projectdeep.wikispaces.com• Join the wiki or just browse and use the materials

What do teachers want?

• More high quality training & money for consumables & equipment

• Hands-on engaging labs & activities that they can use in the classroom

• Equipment for doing labs with students • Science content knowledge + Common core connections

Teacher goal FrequencyCommon core implementation ||| (3)Learn engaging activities / labs ||||||||||| (11)Integration of technology & science | (1)To be a more effective teacher ||| (3)Gain organizational skills | (1)Networking with others | (1)Gain science content knowledge ||||| (5)CEU credits | (1)

Project DEEP• 21 Teachers participated in the workshop• Collected data about their needs in teaching science and

expectations for the course• 7 CEUs and $80/day stipend, plus materials, resources, and

networking• Faculty leading workshop sessions included science education

coordinator, environ• All positive feedback about the workshop, all teachers

demonstrated learning gains and were provided with resources

• Greatest weakness in making connections to Common Core

The Soil

http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/concepts/soil_biology/images/A-3.jpg

Vermicomposting

Worm Castings

Using Worms in the Classroom

• Eisenia foetida (redworms) are cheap, easy to care for, and will eat your garbage!• Functional mini-ecosystem • Lesson modifiable for biology, ecology, math,

recycling at multiple levels• K-12 appropriate• Great science fair idea generator

Explore

• Sample, pan, magnifying lens•What can I identify in my sample?•What questions do I have?• Journal your observations • Share your observations with the class• Start vocabulary foldable for topic

Worm Anatomy

Observations• Identification of materials – egg shells, leaves, fruit peels,

seeds, stems, variety of organic matter• Worm eggs – watch birth of worm• Worms at several stages of development• Questions for further investigation?

Under the microscope

Classroom set of microscopes plus an Olympus demonstration scope with attached camera. Can record still images or video in Live Capture mode. On right, worm egg at 40x magnification. Three worms visible inside.

Relevant Vocabulary

• Habitat• Chlorophyll• Climate / Microclimate• Photosynthesis• Aerobic / Anaerobic• Castings• Fungi• Compost• Food web• Herbivore• Carnivore• Omnivore

• Vermiculture• Recyclers• Microbes• Nematodes• Trophic levels• Decomposers / decomp• Autotroph / heterotroph• Producers / consumers• Arthropods• Mutualists• Biogeochemical cycles

Academic Vocabulary Process1. Introduce new terms• Prior knowledge – think / pair / share

2. Students restate meanings• Concept cards / word whacker

3. Add visual representations• Draw / trace & label, develop symbols, comics• Physical motion – word aerobics, act it out

4. Activities for deeper meaning• Journaling about the word, relationship circles, linear ordering• Synonyms / antonyms, Venn diagrams

5. Vocabulary discussions• Think / pair / share – where have I heard this word this week?

6. Word games

School garden – Wiley garden• Poll – how many schools represented here have gardens?• What is biggest barrier to starting garden?

DSU Wiley Community Garden – service, teaching, exhibit garden run by faculty and facilities management from all parts of campus

• Dye garden, flowers, vegetable garden• Chinese staff donated to Chinese vegetable garden, across

street from the Delta Chinese exhibit at the archive building

In the Garden

Left, lot before garden work started; right, raised beds with gravel fill in spring garden

Earth Day Ribbon Cutting

Food & Lesson plans

Wiley Garden

Extensions• Nitrogen cycle – developed unit that will be presented soon• Will be added to the projectdeep wikispace

• Investigation of organic vs. chemical fertilizers• Do plants grow better in worm castings, potting soil, or ?• What are effect are the worms having on the soil?

• Record questions of students and use those as springboard for science fair investigations:• What will worms eat?• How long does it take them to eat?• Do they eat faster when it’s warm or cold?• How many worms are in there?• How fast do they reproduce?

Conclusions

• If you are in the Delta, we want to connect with you!• Come visit the Wiley Garden•Make use of the variety of environmental

science education resources on our Wiki

• Special thanks to EPA Grant 95491012 and the Division of Biological and Physical Sciences at DSU