Background

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge necessary. Can be taught as a previsit, post visit or stand alone program. This unit is also taught as an activity in some of our onsite programs.

Key Learning Question

What animals live in the compost bin and how can they recycle nutrients?

Learning Intentions

In this program students will:

• Distinguish between things that can and cant be placed in a compost bin
• Identify the animals living in the compost bin
• Understand the importance of recycling.

Activities

Students will:

• Discuss what happens in a compost bin
• Search through trays of compost to find and identify what is living in there.

Victorian Curriculum

• Living things have a variety of external features and live in different places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter, are met (VCSSU042)
• Everyday materials can be physically changed or combined with other materials in a variety of ways for particular purposes (VCSSU045)
• Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (VCSIS051)
• Compare observations and predictions with those of others (VCSIS054).

Learning Continuum

The following Learning Continuum is a guide for teachers to show the links between the programs Ecolinc offers onsite, online and through outreach. The Learning Continuum can be used to access Ecolinc resources to support the development of units of work.

Ecolinc Learn Online is an online learning management system offering interactive online courses for students and teachers. These courses can be undertaken either as a pre-visit, post-visit or stand-alone. Students are encouraged to do the pre-learning course before coming to Ecolinc for an onsite program.

Outreach programs are conducted by an Ecolinc education officer at your school. They are available to moderately disadvantaged primary schools in the Geelong, Ballarat and western suburbs areas (or within 100km radius from Bacchus Marsh)