NYC Teacher Wormshop: Worm Composting for the Classroom

The NYC Compost Project has designed a workshop specifically for New York City school teachers. NYC teacher "wormshop": worm composting for the classroom is open to all New York City teachers grades K-12.

Composting with a worm bin is a practical, tangible approach to introducing natural science and recycling in the classroom. It appeals especially to tactile learning styles, allowing students to directly experience abstract notions by bringing textbook examples to life.

NYC TEACHER "WORMSHOP" DESCRIPTION
3 hours new-teacher training credit
Worm composting (vermicomposting) for the classroom is a fun, hands-on way to teach students about decomposition, the food chain, organic recycling, and other natural systems. In this workshop, teachers learn how to set up a worm bin, feed worms with food scraps, maintain a healthy worm bin ecosystem, and harvest finished compost. The workshop introduces teachers to activities, cross-curriculum ideas, and ways to incorporate worm composting into science, math, and language arts for all age levels. Participants receive a materials packet on composting and recycling, and a kit including the activity guide book Worms Eat Our Garbage, one pound of red wriggler worms, and a plastic bin to assemble with shredded newspaper in the classroom.

For dates and times of any upcoming workshops, see the nyc composting calendar.

Note: This workshop is open only to NYC teachers. Advance registration with payment is required. All participants must be prepared to take home the worms and set up the bin no later than two days after the workshop. If you will be traveling by public transportation, please bring a luggage cart to transport the worm bin. When registering, leave a phone number where you can be reached to confirm your reservation; include the name of your school and the grade level you teach.

For more information, see:

• indoor composting with a worm bin http://www.nyccompost.org/how/wormbin.html
• troubleshooting indoor composting http://www.nyccompost.org/how/troubleshoot2.html
• harvesting vermicompost http://www.nyccompost.org/how/vermicompost.html
• nyc compost project http://www.nyccompost.org/program/index.html