Observing Food Decomposition

Instructions:

1. Gather your materials: 4 glass jars or ziplock bags, 4 different types of foods (bread, fruit, dairy, chips, etc.).

2. Observe the food carefully. To do this, slow down, stay focused and pay attention to details. Think about: what does the food look like? smell like?

3. Place each food item into a container.

4. Check the food once a day for 5 days and repeat step 2.

5. Talk about what you have observed, what you’re thinking and the questions you have.

Enrichment:

1. Draw pictures daily of your observations

2. Repeat this again using 4 different foods

InterACTions:

• Have you ever heard the word decomposition before? Let’s talk about it…

• What foods do you think would be interesting to observe decomposing?

• What do you notice about the food?

• Now that another day has passed, what new observations can you make?

• What do you think is happening? Why?

• What questions do you have?