Learning About Composting Through Complex Instruction

This week we took on a big project; learning about composting through cooperative learning. Students' worked in groups of three or four to work through open ended learning tasks. Students each had a role that switched daily to practice powerful group work. The theme of this unit was, "What are the benefits of composting, and how can I change my behaviors to live more sustainably?" Students rotated through three different activities. The first activity was creating a garden with composted soil and non-composted soil and making a prediction regarding plant growth. The second activity was creating a skit that represented our world in twenty years if we do compost, or our world in twenty years if we don't compost. The third activity was creating a brochure or poster convincing people to compost. Students learned the benefits of sustainable living, and also practiced how to work cooperatively in a group and follow group norms. The norms we practiced were, "We listen to and value everyone's ideas", "No one is done until everyone is done", and lastly "No one of us is as smart as all of us together". We focused in on all the different ways we are smart, and how we need everyone in our classroom to be successful. Each student group created very impressive products, and if all goes well you will have some of our seedlings home with you soon!

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