Using the list generated the previous week, review with students how scientists behave while doing research. Students undertake field exploration to look for examples of decomposition in the environment and for signs of decomposers. Review students' previous explorations of soil, focusing on the parts of soil and the importance of living and once-living matter in soils. Students to understand that soil hastens decomposition of living matter, which, in turn, becomes part of the soil. Students work in small groups to design investigations.
Students meet with teacher to discuss small-group plans.
Whole-class discussion of plans for observation and care. Develop recording sheets. Set up investigations. Students make sketches in their science journals and add recording sheets for data collection. Students regularly record observations of their decomposition columns.