Biodegradability experiment
In this activity, students set up an experiment to determine the biodegradability of different substances.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
organise a group of items into categories
carry out a simple experiment
understand that some materials are biodegradable and others aren’t
explain what might affect how quickly something degrades
make predictions about the biodegradability of materials.
Rotting apple core
This apple core is starting to biodegrade. This rotting process is helped by the action of bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms break down the apple core into simple nutrients.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
discussion questions
student handout
Title
Explore the science ideas and concepts around biodegradability and bioindicators.
Did you know that the rate at which biological material degrades is dependent on conditions such as light, water and temperature and the types or microorganisms present, as well as the type of substance, find out more in Measuring biodegradability.
Useful link
Find out more about backyard composting on this website.
