Today, I’m going to show you how nature recycles by building a compost pile — a mix of organic mulch that will slowly turn into rich, healthy soil. I start by gathering the browns, like pine straw, dried leaves, and wood chips, which are full of carbon, giving energy to the tiny decomposers that do the work. What’s a decomposer? A decomposer is a living organism, like bacteria, fungi, or worms, that breaks down dead plants and animals into simpler materials, returning nutrients to the soil.
As I move the wood chips, I notice a small patch of white fungal growth spreading across the pieces — a reminder that fungi are some of nature’s best recyclers. Mycelium and mycorrhizal fungi are particularly important. They are tiny helpers that live on or near plant roots. They act like little rivers, helping plants drink more water and take in nutrients from the soil. In return, the plants give the fungi some food in the form of sugars. This is a very balanced relationship that keeps plants healthy and the soil full of life!
We will also add the greens, such as grass and yard clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, which are all full of nitrogen, providing nutrients for the decomposers.
When you’re doing this kind of work, you have to watch your step. I accidentally discovered an ant colony and they weren’t too happy. Look at these tiny workers scurrying about, carrying food and soil — a perfect demonstration of how even insects are part of the composting process. But they gotta go!
As I move and mix the piles, I discover all sorts of other tiny, unidentified creatures exploring their new home, and I realize that every handful of compost is alive with activity. Like every other living organism, sunlight, nutrients, water and air are necessary for survival. So we should keep the pile moist, and turn it occasionally.
Over the next few weeks, the pile will get warm, shrink, and change color, and if you look closely, you might see more worms, bugs, and fungi joining the process, all working together to break down the materials. When it’s ready, the compost will be dark, earthy, and crumbly — perfect soil for gardens.
Composting reduces waste by reusing natural materials. Instead of putting it in landfill, we can give these resources back to nature and feed the plants that feed us.
🌍 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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