{"id":1606,"date":"2018-01-02T11:54:54","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T16:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.horizon-research.com\/ASSET\/?page_id=1606"},"modified":"2019-04-15T16:23:51","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T20:23:51","slug":"student-experience-3-what-are-decomposers-continued","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.horizon-research.com\/ASSET\/getting-started-interdependence\/driving-question-pathway-the-mystery-at-sunrise-farm-pond\/the-mystery-at-sunrise-farm-pond-part-two\/student-experience-3-what-are-decomposers-continued\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Experience 3: What are decomposers? (Continued)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"decomposers\"<\/a>
\nPrint<\/a>\n

Purposes<\/em><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. To help students learn about the various types of organisms that are decomposers.<\/li>\n
  2. To reinforce that all decomposers, regardless of type of organism, have the same needs (the needs of consumers).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Description<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Tell the students that \u201cdecomposer\u201d is the name of a category of organisms<\/a>.\u00a0 Ask students to name some of the things they have seen that are decomposers from the video and experiment (e.g., mold and fruit flies).\u00a0 Ask if they have any other ideas about what organisms are decomposers.<\/p>\n

    Discuss composting with the class.\u00a0 Compost, by definition, is \u201corganic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as fertilizer and soil amendment.<\/a>\u201d\u00a0 Composting involves taking wet organic matter (leaves, food waste) and allowing it to break down into nutrient-rich humus, which can be added to soil for growing plants.\u00a0 Ask students what they think decomposes the organic matter.\u00a0 Show students the following clips:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Decomposing leaf: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cPhfP8Yu7Zs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. Compost time lapse: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iAiRNq8JXw8<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. Compost under a microscope: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5YKr2JB6qbQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Compost under a microscope: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sE8R5cTUOtM<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n
            1. Compost under a microscope: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q-gdoznfTPw<\/a> (begin at 2:10; the speaker notes that bacteria are present<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              After showing students the five videos, lead a discussion using the Questions to Ask Students.\u00a0 If students are unclear about anything viewed in the videos, re-view as needed.<\/p>\n

              Questions to Ask Students <\/em><\/h3>\n