When I come out to the garden early in the morning, I often see the compost pile “smoking.” But it’s not really smoke — it’s steam. That warmth comes from millions of tiny decomposers working together, breaking down leaves, pine straw, and scraps into healthy soil. Inside that pile, nature is busy — and it’s a reminder that even though things may look still on the outside, real change is happening underneath.
About five months ago, we received an enormous load of mulch and garden materials — so much that it looked impossible to move. At first, I thought I’d have help, maybe even a tractor. But those plans didn’t work out. So, I grabbed a pitchfork and a garden cart and started one pile at a time. Day after day, I moved mulch. There were delays, obstacles, and moments when I didn’t think I’d ever finish. But I kept going — patiently — and now, I’m finally within a week or two of finishing the last pile.
Composting takes time, and so does growth — in the garden and in life. You can’t rush it. The heat and the steam, remind us that slow change is happening inside the pile even when it’s hard to see. Whether we’re growing plants, learning new things, or working toward a goal, the best results come from patience, persistence, and believing that each small step matters.
🌍 Lesson Focus: How Nature Recycles — The Composting Process
Objective: Students will understand how living and nonliving things work together to decompose organic matter and create rich soil, and how carbon and nitrogen play key roles in the process.
🧠 Key Concepts
Compost – Nature’s way of recycling! It’s what happens when dead plants, food scraps, and leaves break down into soil.
Decomposition – The process of breaking things down into smaller parts.
Carbon (“browns”) – Things like pine straw, leaves, and wood chips that give energy to decomposers.
Nitrogen (“greens”) – Things like grass, weeds, and kitchen scraps that give protein to decomposers.
Decomposers – Tiny living things (bacteria, worms, fungi) that do the work of turning waste into soil.
⚗️ Demonstration Steps
Build the Layers
Show students how you alternate layers:
Browns → pine straw, leaves, wood chips
Greens → grass clippings, weeds, fruit/vegetable scraps
Explain that you’re balancing carbon (energy) and nitrogen (protein) just like a recipe.
Add Water & Air
Spray lightly with water and explain that decomposers need moisture and air to survive — just like us!
Observe Changes Over Time
Encourage students to check for:
Heat (feel the center — safely, if possible)
Smell (earthy vs. stinky)
Texture (materials softening)
Life (worms, bugs, fungi)
🔬 Classroom Discussion Prompts
Why do you think decomposers are important to the Earth?
What might happen if we didn’t compost or recycle food scraps?
How does composting help plants grow better?
What’s the difference between “browns” and “greens”?
📒 Extension Ideas
Compost Detectives: Give students magnifying glasses and have them explore the compost pile (or samples) to find decomposers — worms, pill bugs, fungi threads, and insect larvae. They can record what they find, draw pictures, or use a simple “field guide” to identify living things.
Temperature Graph: Use a thermometer to measure pile temperature each week and chart the data.
Vocabulary Poster: Create a class poster labeling “Carbon Materials” and “Nitrogen Materials.”
Kitchen Scrap Compost List: Create a list of items that are safe and unsafe to put in compost bins
Micro Life Under the Microscope: If you have access to a microscope, place a small compost sample on a slide to look for tiny living things like bacteria and fungal threads (hyphae). Discuss how these invisible helpers play a major role.
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