Microorganisms play a vital role in the decomposition process. Students will make predictions about materials which will decompose and their rates. Variables which will be held constant will be examined and defined.
Decomposition occurs everywhere.
If everything existed forever, we would be buried in our waste. Display a piece of glass, paper, metal, plastic, and food. Conduct the following experiment to determine whether their predictions were correct. Dig enough soil from a garden or vacant lot to fill five containers. Fill five of the containers half full with soil, and the other five half full with sterile potting mix.