The Making of a Worm Compost

Catching up on some posts!

Ms. Sion helped the children make some worm composts. The weather was still chilly at the time, but this was the kind of work that needed to happen outdoors.

 

Shredded paper was added to the bins. The paper will help to keep the moisture for the worms.

Compost from the digesters was added to the paper shreds. Also, natural materials needed to be put in.

Everyone worked together.

The natural materials will decompose. That will make a perfect home for compost worms!

Water was the final ingredient. Not too much, not too little.

A perfect home for compost worms!

The worm compost bins are for teachers in other schools. They will be so excited!

Spring Is In The Air!

There's Fungus Among Us!

MUSHROOM - Nope...not a room of mush or for mush.

mush·room

ˈməSHˌro͞om,ˈməSHˌro͝om/noun

noun: mushroom; plural noun: mushrooms

1.

a fungal growth that typically takes the form of a domed cap on a stalk, often with gills on the underside of the cap.

The children listened carefully to Mr. Fields talk about oyster mushrooms and explain what they would be planting today.

Mr. Fields explains to the children that straw is in the bucket. He had already pasteurized the straw before bringing it into our classroom. Mr. Fields explains to the children the word pasteurizing means boiling the straw in water. Pasteurizing the straw reduces the fungi and bacteria that is present in the straw.

The children filled their bags half full with the pasteurized straw.

 

The children stuffed oyster mushrooms into the straw, making sure they were all covered. "The straw feels wet and it's sticking to my fingers!" said Kate. 

"The mushroom is white and brown in colour." Mia noticed. 

After we were done using the pasteurized straw we put the leftovers in our worm house for our compost worms. Our compost worms were in for a great treat today!

Then of course we had to explore and investigate our compost worms. "The worm is tickling my hand when it crawls on my hand." Jackson exclaimed.
"Some worms are longer and some worms are shorter." Maia replied.

The children used magnify glasses to take a closer look at the mushrooms.  Jackson noticed, "The mushrooms have lines through it." 

Danica added, "The mushrooms feel lumpy."
The children also decided to explore and investigate the wild mushrooms we had on our science table. The children discussed the similarities and differences  
between the mushrooms.
Danica observed, "The big wild mushroom feels fuzzy and the oyster mushroom 
feels bumpy."

After we were done stuffing the bags with mushrooms we twist tied the bags shut.

Jackson shared what he had learned, "We have to cut holes in the bag so the air can get through to the mushrooms and help them grow."

After all the bags were full, twist tied and ready to go, the 

children decided to conduct a little experiment. 

The children decided to put the bags of mushrooms in two different spots to see which area in the classroom would grow the mushrooms the quickest. 

They put half of the bags on top of the fridge and the 

other half in the cupboards in our kitchen. 

Which will grow the mushrooms the best? A place with lots of sunlight? Or a dark place? 

Only time will tell!

 Stay tuned for updates and children's observations. 

Planting Our Sunflowers

We had a perfect day to plant sunflowers. The children gathered at the outdoor planting centre.

Having become wonderful gardeners, the children know that the soil should be deep enough,

and the seeds need just a bit of soil to cover them.

They also know how the worm compost gives the best nutrients to add to the soil.

Nothing like a good dose of worm juice to perk things up!

Take some out and put some in. The boys and girls got some great worm juice, then added some fruit scraps  back to the worm composter.

A wonderfully nutritious drink!

Once they're sprouted, we'll plant them in the garden. 

Ask the children about their garden work. We've been very busy in the front of the school and on the roof top!