OBJECTIVE

​Students will be able to make compost tea

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

What is compost? How do we build soil?

MATERIALS NEEDED

One of each per group:

• Compost Tea Recipe
• 5-gallon bucket
• Mesh bag or burlap
• 3 cups of compost
• Aquarium pump
• Hose for the pump
• Optional mix ins:
  • hamate’s
  • fish emulsion
  • kelp meal
  • worm castings
  • seaweed
  • molasses
• Seedings/plants to give compost tea

PROCEDURE

Introduction:

Discuss what compost is and the benefits. Ask students what they think compost tea is and what it is for? Discuss the benefits of compost tea and when you might use it.

Activity:

Tell the students they are going to be in group and will be making their own batch of compost tea to give to their groups plants. Each group will have their own bucket to brew compost tea. They will each have access to different ingredients, and we will test them to see which compost tea aids in plant growth and plant health.
Identify each ingredient and ask students why they think we would include these: Compost, water, oxygen are required ingredients. Students can add optional mix ins and can research about them or read their packaging for more info.
Compost is a living organism/full of living organisms. We are stimulating reproduction in the bacterial and fungal life in the soil through water and oxygen. We are feeding the bacteria with sugars (molasses), and we are feeding all of the organisms with various supplements.
Invite each group to begin developing their own recipe for compost tea.

Wrap up/ Assessment:

Each group will create that recipe, and document it. Students can do a before and after scientific drawing.
Each group will have a tray of plants which they will spray with their compost tea in 24-48 hours. They will make observations and compare differences in growth/color between groups.