Original PromptAll About Composting
Nature Recycles
BY JOEL STONE
Used by permission of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
1 Here is a tree with its many parts.
It has leaves and branches, a trunk, roots and bark.
2 The leaves in the fall turn from bright green and brown.
As the weather turns cooler, they fall to the ground.
3 First one leaf will fall and then many more,
As leaves become leaf litter on the forest floor.
4 Who’ll clean up this mess? What shall we do?
Here comes nature’s recyclers,...
This educational resource focuses on nature's recycling system, specifically the process of composting. It aims to teach students about decomposers in the ecosystem, such as worms, mushrooms, and beetles, and their roles in nutrient cycling. Through a poem and comprehension questions, students learn about how organic materials like fallen leaves contribute to soil formation, and the vital functions of various decomposers. Activities encourage students to match decomposers to their functions, reflect on other creatures that help recycle nutrients in nature, and creatively express the benefits of composting in gardens. The overall goal is to instill an understanding of ecological cycles and the importance of recycling in nature.