Composting                                                         January 2016    

 
In This Issue
Links of Interest

Composting basics for beginners.

Modules for elementary, middle and high school classrooms provide STEM activities and lessons to show how the challenge to feed our world's growing population can be solved with science.  All lessons are aligned to state standards.

U.S. Composting Council
A list of lessons, resources and videos to help bring composting into your classroom.

An online, searchable, and standards-based curriculum map for K-12 teachers
Sponsored By:
 
A worldwide reference for broiler breeding stock since 1921.
Find NHAITC at these events:

Farm & Forest Expo
January 22-23, 2016
Radisson Hotel, Manchester
click here for information
 A great field trip opportunity!
Help Support NHAITC
     

For lesson, activities and articles:

Contacts

Debbi Cox

State Coordinator

nhaitc@nhfarmbureau.org

(603) 224-1934

295 Sheep Davis Road

Concord, NH  03301

 

Deb Robie, 

Grafton County Coordinator


Composting

"Composting is nature's process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost. Anything that was once living will decompose. Basically, controlled composting is an acceleration of the same process nature uses. By composting your organic waste, you are returning nutrients back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue. Finished compost looks like soil-dark brown, crumbly and smells like a forest floor." (1)

Composting is a great teaching tool which can explain a variety of concepts such as life cycles, decomposition, soil science, chemistry, geology, ecosystems and more.  Use activities to strengthen students' observation techniques, formulate a hypothesis and develop basic engineering skills. While learning these skills, students are also growing a sense of environmental stewardship.  

(1) http://www.recycleworks.org/compost
 
Classroom Connection

Compost Activities                            grades 2-12
A variety of activities for beginner through more advanced classrooms.

Composting Across the Curriculum          A Teachers Guide to Composting.  How to create a composting system and tie it into your curriculum.   

Composting for Better Soil                 grades 2-4 Students will learn about composting: its definition, its effect on soil, how to make it and what lives in it

Soda Bottle Bioreactor                     most grades
Build a small, inexpensive tool for composting research.
NHAITC Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Mike Smith of Mascenic Regional High School for being selected as the NHAITC Teacher of the Year!  As a science teacher for grades 9-12, Mike has found a variety of ways to incorporate agriculture into his classroom including
lan dscaping the front of the school, planting apple  trees, preparing a vegetable and herb garden for the Foods class, exploring seed propagation and securing a greenhouse.  His future plans include adding a wall garden with a focus on soil and working with the local elementary school.  Mike will be recognized at the annual Granite State Association of FFA Convention in April and his application will be submitted to the National Agriculture in the Classroom for consideration in the Excellence in Teaching Awards program.
Grant Opportunities

The Lowes Toolbox for Education Grants spring cycle begins December 18th and continues through February 12, 2016. Funding may be available for technology upgrades, tools for STEM programs and school gardens. Click  here for application information.  

Digital Wish Grants allows you to submit a technology-based lesson plan for a chance to win over 50 different technology grants.  Digital Wish also provides a searchable library of grants and a myriad of ideas for fundraising. The entire site is designed to empower teachers to find funding for technology for their classrooms.  Click here for more information.  
Research for Teachers Program
 
New Hampshire EPSCoR ( the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research), is once again offering its successful Research for Teachers Program this summer.   The program provides a community within which middle and high school educators can obtain research experience and then work together to design ways to incorporate research into their classroom curriculum. Research will focus on the interaction between ecosystems and society and their resulting impacts on each other.  Click here for more information.  
NH Agriculture in the Classroom            295 Sheep Davis Rd        Concord, New Hampshire 03301
email:  nhaitc@nhfarmbureau.org          (603) 224-1934        http://www.agclassroom.org/nh