Lesson 7: Making and Using Healthy Compost

eBook: Fredge’s Compost

Begin the lesson by sharing the eBook, Fredge’s Compost (click on the cover of the eBook). There is audio for this story that you can use, or students can take turns to read the text

The focus of the eBook is to reinforce information about correct composting and the value of composting for soil health. For information on using 5+ A Day eBooks, click here.

There are two interactive activities that follow the eBook. They work on a computer, a tablet, or an IWB. They can be used during or at the end of the lesson or in choosing time to reinforce key information from the story. Students will get the most from these activities if you model them first and explain the actions required and the aims of the activity. Then students can do them independently or in pairs.

For Activity 7, help Fredge make compost by dragging the correct items into the compost bin: banana, apple, carrot, spinach. For Activity 8, to show how compost is made, drag the items into the compost bin in the correct order: food scraps, rotting food, compost creatures, compost.

• What important things did we learn in this book?
• Were Niko and Rae helping to make good compost? Why?

Ask the students to describe what happened when Niko and Rae put rice and meat into Fredge’s compost bin.

• What would happen if they kept doing that? (There would be lots of mice and flies in Fredge’s garden.)
• Yes, there would lots of pesky mice and flies./Ae, he maha rawa ngā kiore me ngā rango kirearea hoki.

Show the students the Photo Card: Thumbs up, thumbs down/Kōnui ake, kōnui iho. (Click on the image to enlarge and download. You can display it using a data projector or share printouts in small groups.)

• These photos shows some leftovers from preparing dinner. Give me a thumbs up or a thumbs down as I point to each thing. Should I put it in my compost bin?

Point to each item of food in turn, and have the students give a thumbs up or a thumbs down, and explain their reasons. Discuss any differences of opinion.

Fact File: Inside the compost bin/Kei roto i te ipu wairākau

• If you poked around inside the compost bin, what might you see, apart from the scraps?

Make a list of the students’ suggestions.

Now use the tongs to place a small pile of the leaf litter onto the sheet of card. Use the tongs to carefully lift off the larger matter, so the smaller pieces can be seen. This will make it easier to spot any living things.

Note: Don’t let the students touch or sniff the compost. Some of the bacteria can cause Legionnaires' Disease, which is a pneumonia caused by bacteria commonly found in water and soils, including potting mix and compost, so always use the tongs to handle it.

• What can you see?/He aha tāu e kitea ai?

As you poke around carefully, you may see tiny creatures such as red mites, black beetles, slaters, earwigs, and centipedes against the white card background. List the ones that the students know, and write a description of any unknown ones.

You could carefully place one of each kind of creature into a white bowl so students can take a closer look using the magnifying glass.

Now share the Fact File: Inside the compost bin/Kei roto i te ipu wairākau (click on the image to enlarge, download, and print).

Discuss the information about fungi, insects, and bacteria, and how each contributes to a healthy compost bin. The discussion needs to explore how the compost works its way to the bottom of the bin. By the time it gets there, it is rich and healthy humus, which is ready to go on the garden to add nutrients that help plants grow.

• How does the compost bin work?/He aha te whakaritenga mo ngā ipu wairākau?
• What happens as the fungi, insects, and bacteria do their work? (The scraps are broken down.)
• When is the compost ready? What should it look like? (Humus should look brown and soil-like.)
• What do you do with the finished compost? (Put it on the garden to add nutrients to the soil.)/Ka aha koe ki te wairākau otinga? (Whakatō ki te māra kia kinakahia ngā taiora ki te one.)