How to Integrate This Activity into the Classroom?
Classroom Composting Guide: Let’s Turn Our Waste into Life!
Last updated
Classroom Composting Guide: Let’s Turn Our Waste into Life!
Last updated
Composting in the classroom not only teaches about recycling but transforms how students view waste, empowering them to become agents of change in caring for the planet. Here are the steps to embark on this school composting adventure.
Comienza con una charla sobre el impacto de nuestros residuos y cómo el compostaje los transforma en algo positivo. Pregunta: ¿alguna vez pensaron que una cáscara de banana puede ayudar a crecer una planta? Inspíralos con imágenes de huertos que nacieron de residuos, y anima a que piensen en cómo reducir los residuos de sus hogares y la cafetería de la escuela. ¡Son superhéroes en acción!
Teach the “magic recipe” for compost: divide waste into “greens” (nitrogen-rich materials like fruits and vegetables) and “browns” (carbon-rich materials like dry leaves and cardboard). Have them sort materials and play a game to decide what’s “green” and what’s “brown.” It’s like eco-friendly cooking!
For older students, research can be more detailed and in-depth. They could explore which organic waste provides the most energy (those rich in carbon) and which significantly contribute to soil nutrition (food waste with high nitrogen content). They might even design experiments to analyze how results vary by adjusting the ratio of carbon-rich to nitrogen-rich elements, as well as environmental factors like light and humidity. All of this could be monitored using tools like the P-Bit or the Smart Citizen sensor kit, fostering practical and scientific learning.
Make the collection of materials a shared mission. Students can bring leftovers from home and even invite neighbors and family members to contribute. You could organize a collection day and ask the cafeteria to separate food scraps. This creates a sense of collective participation, making it all the more exciting!
Choose a space for composting, whether it’s a box in the classroom, a corner of the schoolyard, or a mini garden. Invite each student to contribute their “green” and “brown” waste and stir the compost. If you have access to a P-Bit or sensors, use them to measure temperature and humidity—it’s a scientific touch that lets students observe the microorganisms at work. Patience is key—the magic of composting takes time!
Once the compost is ready, put it to use. You can create a small garden or apply it to the school’s plants. Together, plant a "compost flower" that grows thanks to their collective effort! Ask the question: Where else could we use this? This opens up ideas for use at home and beyond.
At the end, organize an exhibition to showcase the process, the resulting compost, and the garden products. If possible, have the students present what they’ve learned to other classes or families. This motivates the entire school to join in the adventure of composting and environmental care. In the workshop shared in this book, the composter itself is transformed into a beautiful planter for your plants.
Creativity and teamwork: Encourage creativity and allow each student to find their way of contributing.
Technology to the rescue: If you have sensors, use them to monitor and add a scientific dimension to composting. If you have access to a Fab Lab, students can even design their own composter. Here’s a network of Fab Labs—find the one closest to you!
We especially thank the teachers from Escola Joan Miró, Institut Ciutat de Balaguer, Escola Cal·lípolis, and Escola Àngela Roca for their dedication, active participation in the project, and for inspiring their students with their motivation and commitment. 🌿✨
Note: Unfortunately, due to technical issues, part of the video does not include images but contains essential voice guidance and tips for creating your own classroom composter with your students. We hope it’s still a useful and enriching tool for your classroom!
We’re sharing a practical resource with you—a tutorial on how to create your own classroom composter. This video was made possible thanks to the guidance of , Director of Sustainability at Restaurant in Barcelona.
