- How
Hot Is My Compost?
-
- Back to Trash Goes To School
-
- GRADE LEVELS:
7-8
-
- SUBJECT AREAS:
science
-
- CONCEPT:
Compost heats up.
-
- OBJECTIVE:
To study the dynamics of heat in the composting process.
-
- MATERIALS:
- handout: Compost Temperature Record
- laboratory or meat thermometer
- work gloves
- pencil
-
- KEYWORDS:
Fahrenheit, Celcius, dynamics
-
- BACKGROUND:
When your compost pile is working ideally, it will get hot.
The temperature can rise to 150 degrees F (66 degrees C) during
the composting process. In the winter, if the compost is working
fast, snow will melt on the pile and you may even see water vapor
coming off the top. The center of the pile will be warm to the
touch.
-
- Turning your compost pile adds air
to the pile. Because the microorganisms and soil animals in the
pile need air to do their work, turning the pile increases their
activity. What effect does turning the compost pile have on its
temperature?
-
- PROCEDURE:
As your compost pile works, take its temperature. Wearing a
glove, place the thermometer deep into the center of the pile.
Record the temperature on the Compost Temperature Record. NOTE:
Your compost pile or container must be at least 4 cubic feet
in volume in order to heat up adequately.
-
- Compost Temperature Record
-
-
- Name:_____________________________________________________________
-
-
- Date compost pile started:______________________________________________
-
- Today's date:________________________________________________________
-
- Date last turned:______________________________________________________
-
- Temperature (Degree F or C):___________________________________________
-
- Observations (smell, color of material):
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- What effect did turning the pile have
on its temperature?
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- What effect does turning have on the
speed of breaking down material in a compost pile? Why?
Back to top