Turning Waste into Life: Composting Adventure at the Florida Lab
Last updated
Last updated
Following the example of the practice we found on the Compostando ciencia blog, the young explorers at the Florida Lab science laboratory embarked on an exciting journey to discover how to transform food waste into something wonderful for plants. Here’s how our composting day went!
To set the context, we watched the FoodShift Pathways video about food waste together. The children were amazed to learn how much is wasted worldwide and how something as simple as composting can make a big difference. This moment prepared us to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
We engaged in interactive exercises to identify what is compostable and what is not. With great curiosity, the children learned to divide compostable items into two groups:
Energy providers: fruit and vegetable scraps.
Soil enrichers: dry leaves, paper, and cardboard.
Together, we created a mural with cutouts representing the ingredients of compost. It was a creative moment that helped us reinforce what we had learned.
As a team, we visited a local restaurant that had been notified in advance to separate organic waste for our workshop. The children, excited with their gloves on, collected food scraps. Every little piece became a tiny treasure ready to be transformed.
We used 8-liter recycled water bottles as compost bins. The children added layers following the "compost cake" method:
Soil.
“Green” waste (fruits and vegetables).
“Brown” waste (paper, dry leaves, and cardboard).
A layer of sawdust on top to keep unwanted visitors away.
Everyone participated, learning about the balance between carbon and nitrogen required for composting to work.
Each week, the children checked the compost’s humidity and temperature using the P-Bit from Powar Steam. They observed how the scraps changed in color, texture, and smell while discussing the microorganisms responsible for decomposition. They learned that "hot" compost indicates the "invisible heroes" are doing their job. At the same time, they filled out their weekly logbooks.
Once the compost was ready, it was time to transform the bottles into pots decorated by the children. Then, with soil and compost, they planted lettuce. It was thrilling to see their faces light up as they imagined the plants growing soon, thanks to the group’s collective effort.
Each child shared what they enjoyed most about the experience and what they learned about composting. Some said they felt like magicians turning food scraps into fertile soil, while others were proud of taking care of the planet. We concluded with a collective mural full of drawings and inspiring messages to encourage others to compost too.
This experience at the Florida Lab was much more than a workshop: it was an opportunity for the kids to connect with nature, learn about sustainability, and discover how something as ordinary as food waste can transform into life.
