EcoSTEM Earth Kit

Description

Captain Planet Foundation’s EcoSTEM EARTH Kit: Enriching Soils while Reducing Waste What does reducing waste have to do with improving soil fertility? Captain Planet Foundation’s EcoSTEM EARTH Kit will engage 3rd to 12th grade students in inquiry investigations, making and demonstrating concepts with models, collecting data for a citizen science project, designing solutions for an engineering challenge, and implementing an environmental stewardship project. This kit provides opportunities for students to: • explore the properties of soil with Luster Leaf Environmental Concept’s Soil Test Kits (8), • investigate erosion with Lab Aids Mini-Stream Tables (8), • engineer and install a Mister Landscaper Drip Irrigation System (1) to preserve soil moisture; • observe decomposition with Educational Insights’ See-Through Compost Container (1); • launch a campaign to reduce cafeteria waste by replicating CafCu’s Cafeteria Ranger program; • pack snacks in U-Konserve reusable cozies (32) to reduce use of disposable plastics; • transform food scraps into compost with a Nature’s Footprint Wormcycler (1); • start the Wormcycler with red wriggler worms from your local WalMart (1 gift card); • design and conduct soil, plant growth or worm experiments inspired by Worms Eat Our Garbage: Classroom Activities for a Better Environment (1) by Mary Appelhof, et, al.; • engage in standards-based learning experiences in “three-dimensional science” for which details are provided on a special Captain Planet Foundation web page. EcoSTEM EARTH Kit Vendors: • LabAids (stream tables) • Nature’s Footprint wormcycler) • WalMart (gift card for purchase of worms in sporting goods section of local store) • LusterLeaf (soil test kit) • Mister Landscaper (donated drip irrigation kit) • Educational Insights (discounted the see-thru composter) • UKonserve (donated lunch cozies) • CafCu (online resources for organizing a reduced waste program in