How Nature Recycles (Decomposers) Class
Nature knows how to recycle!
Learn how nature makes good use of dead and decaying plants and animals, as a guide takes you hiking along the nature center trails. Participate in a demonstration about decomposers like fungi, worms, and insects. And for fun, play a worm relay game. View live decomposers, like roly-polies or millipedes. Extended program participants may add a related nature activity such as a game or demonstration.
Grades K - 5th
Group Minimum 10
Duration 2 Hours Fee $15.00/participant (children and adults)
Extended Program Duration 2.5-3 hours Fee $20/participant (children and adults)
Objectives
Students will:
Name some organisms that help nature recycle, such as fungi, worms, insects, and bacteria.
Describe how nature recycles a dead organism to benefit many other living organisms.
Observe decomposing logs, fungi, and other decaying matter in nature.
Vocabulary
Decomposer - something that helps break down dead or decaying matter
Fungus - a living thing that grows somewhat like a plant but does not have chlorophyll (does not make its own food) often grows in a damp environment and helps break down the surrounding environment; mushrooms, molds, and yeast are examples.
Insect - invertebrate (animal with no bones) with six legs, two antennae, two eyes, and an exoskeleton
Soil - top layer of earth's surface, made of rock, mineral and organic pieces (such as dead leaves or bark);most plants need soil to grow well
TEKS
Programs are adjusted to be age appropriate. All programs address the TEKS goal of engaging students in hands-on investigations of the natural world.
For specific, grade-level TEKS that may be included in our programs, see our TEKS chart below.
