Lesson: Rotting Away

Ask students to describe things they associate with fall, such as the weather, changes in nature, or the appearance of certain foods. Discuss traditions associated with the season, such as Día de Los Muertos, Halloween, Sukkot, and Thanksgiving, and the activities associated with them. Explain that in the U.S., one tradition shared by many people is decorating with pumpkins and carving jack-o’-lanterns. Ask students what they think happens to these objects after Halloween is over. Do they think that throwing away pumpkins—or other food waste resulting from fall traditions—can affect the environment? If so, what effects might doing that have?

Watch the video “Food Waste in America.” Then ask the following questions to prompt discussion about what students learned: What are sources of food waste? What are the effects of throwing out food? What solutions reduce food waste? Which solution do you think would be most effective?

Read the article aloud to students while they follow along. Then instruct them to complete the “Evaluating Visuals” skills sheet, available in the online teaching resources. Discuss their answers and, as a class, come up with a list of additional visuals that could have been included.

As a class, examine the article’s sidebar on composting. Discuss the steps in the process and why each is important. Ask: Why are the pumpkins shredded? What do students think is the reason for adding twigs and leaves? Why are the piles frequently turned over? Discuss students’ initial ideas. Then conduct a demonstration of the experiment outlined in “Apple Decay” (especially if food insecurity is an issue for students) or let students complete the experiment at home. Discuss the results of the experiment, as well as variables that affected the outcome.

Have students complete the “Reusing Waste” skills sheet. Discuss their answers and brainstorm ways you could help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Have students complete the article’s “Check for Understanding.”

⇨ SEL: This lesson plan contains social-emotional learning support related to responsible decision-making.

⇨ VIDEO EXTRA: Watch a video about the causes and effects of food waste.