Each group needs:

• 4 clear containers, 11.5 L (~ 12 qt.) to serve as compost bins
• soil, leaves, and other organic materials found outside for compost; (if the school environment has limited access to organic materials, teachers can purchase various items at a home improvement store and students can choose which to include as their design challenge (for instance: dirt, topsoil, sand, mulch, rocks, leaves, and peat moss)
• cardboard, newspaper, paper, hay, or pine needles to use as bedding for compost bins (see Troubleshooting Tips)
• reusable or compostable cups; used to scoop organic materials from outside
• large plastic bags, 3.78 L (~1 gal); used to hold organic materials before weighing (can be replaced with a sustainable option, such as plastic or glass containers)
• 450 g (~1 lb.) organic waste; students can also collect organic waste around campus, such as fallen leaves or food scraps
• 2 magnifying glasses
• red wiggler worms, 250 count (~50 worms for each compost bin) available at https://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Jims-Worm-Farm-Composting/dp/B00EZPSSGY
• Recycling, Compost, and Garbage Worksheet

To share with the entire class:

• drill to make air holes in compost bins (a heated needle or hot glue gun may be used as an alternative)
• nitrile gloves
• moisture meters, thermometers, and compost turners
• optional: a Worm Farm Accessory Kit with Compost Tools available online is an all-in-one solution that includes a moisture meter, pH meter, thermometer, compost turner, food scrap handling tool, and compost harvesting scraper        
• digital scale with tare function that measures in metric and US customary units
• various types of objects to weigh such as gummy bears, sugar, marbles, and blocks
• small plastic bags or containers for objects to be weighed in
• 500 ml beakers for adding water to compost bins when needed (measuring cups or plastic cups can be used as an alternative)
• projector or Smartboard
• tape, glue, or stapler
• scissors

Each student needs:

• chart paper or poster board for presentations
• a lab notebook and pencil
• various colored pencils, crayons, and markers
• Materials List Sheet
• Recycling, Compost, and Garbage Sorting Worksheet
• Parts of a Worm Worksheet
• [optional] Model Habitat Worksheet

Literature:

• The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger, available online
• Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals, available online
• Composting: Nature’s Recyclers (Amazing Science) by Robin Koontz, available online
• Yucky Worms: Read and Wonder by Vivian French, available online
• Wiggling Worms at Works by Wendy Pfeffer, available online
• Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, available online
• Optional book that can be used for teacher’s background research or as a class reference - Compost: A Family’s Guide to Making Soil from Scraps by Ben Raskin, available online