I am the land and the land is me

This term, we have been immersed in an inquiry all about compost; what it is, how it works, and why it matters. We began with a provocation to spark curiosity, a deep dive into our school rubbish. We quickly realised how much organic waste could actually be composted. We explored the science of composting next. Through our 'compost in a jar' (thanks for all the jars by the way!), we created mini compost systems, carefully layering greens and browns and observing changes over time. To make good compost, you need a mix of 'greens' (fruit/veggie scraps, clippings etc) and 'browns' (dry leaves, shredded paper, cardboard). The greens give moisture and nutrients, and the browns add air and help stop it getting stinky. When everything is balanced, the compost pile warms up. Over time, the scraps break down into dark, crumbly soil which can then go back into the garden to help plants grow strong and healthy. We then mapped the journey of compost using diagrams. For those ready to go further, some extended their thinking through research-based tasks like designing idel compost systems or investigating worm farms. We learnt that healthy soil is the foundation for everything we grow and that getting it right takes time, care, and patience. We are really looking forward to applying this knowledge to our soon-to-be renovated school composting system..keep your eyes peeled!