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Vermicomposting & Teaching with Gardens

Vermicomposting & Teaching with Gardens. A mini environmental science workshop from Project DEEP Lacey S. Fitts, Science Education Instructor, Delta State University. Project DEEP. Delta Environmental Education Program – funded by the EPA

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Vermicomposting & Teaching with Gardens

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  1. Vermicomposting & Teaching with Gardens A mini environmental science workshop from Project DEEP Lacey S. Fitts, Science Education Instructor, Delta State University

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

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

  6. Vermicomposting Worm Castings

  7. Using Worms in the Classroom • Eiseniafoetida(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

  8. 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

  9. Worm Anatomy

  10. 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?

  11. 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.

  12. 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

  13. Academic Vocabulary Process • Introduce new terms • Prior knowledge – think / pair / share • Students restate meanings • Concept cards / word whacker • Add visual representations • Draw / trace & label, develop symbols, comics • Physical motion – word aerobics, act it out • Activities for deeper meaning • Journaling about the word, relationship circles, linear ordering • Synonyms / antonyms, Venn diagrams • Vocabulary discussions • Think / pair / share – where have I heard this word this week? • Word games

  14. 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

  15. In the Garden Left, lot before garden work started; right, raised beds with gravel fill in spring garden

  16. Earth Day Ribbon Cutting

  17. Food & Lesson plans

  18. Wiley Garden

  19. Extensions • Nitrogen cycle – developed unit that will be presented soon • Will be added to the projectdeepwikispace • 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?

  20. 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

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