By: Indya Evans & Dr. Debby Hanmer Wiggling with Biochar By: Indya Evans & Dr. Debby Hanmer

Lesson Plan This lesson plan was created for high school students to become more familiar with NC Essential Standards: EEn.2.8.4 The learner will evaluate the concept of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” in terms of impact on natural resources. Bio.2.1 Analyze the interdependence of living organisms within their environments.

What will the students learn? The students will learn about the interaction between organisms and their environment.(biology) How to reduce, reuse, and recycle (earth science) What biochar is and what it can be used for How to carry out an experiment using inquiry based learning Creating an experiment Formulating a hypothesis Making observations Collecting data Drawing conclusions

Lesson Plan continued 5E lesson plan Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Evaluate Students have a class discussion for elaboration.

Engage 1.What is biochar? 2.Do you recycle and reuse? If so, what do you recycle or reuse? 3.What two benefits does biochar amended soil offer compared to traditional soil?

Explore Complete an experiment involving explaining organisms’ interaction with their environment or the 3R’s.

Explain Students will form a description of what sustainable agriculture would look like. Students will discuss how they can demonstrate the 3 R’s in their everyday lives.

Elaborate The class will have a discussion on the topics displayed in the experiment.

Evaluate Students will be assessed with their lab notebook, the pre lab question and the post lab question.

About Biochar Biochar is a type of charcoal used as a soil amendment. It originated in the Amazon by the Pre-Columbian Amazonians Biochar is studied by scientists to figure out how it interacts with the soil and the organisms within the soil Biochar could become very marketable for farms

The Experiment Takes 4 to 7 days to complete Should be done in a laboratory setting (does not have to be but preferred) Includes safety precaution 4 stations involved

Materials Worms (preference: red wigglers) Biochar Markers Screen divider Soil Tape Plastic container Gloves Worm feed such as fruit and vegetable scraps (made by students) Worksheet for biochar experiment Blender Research notebook (composition notebook)

How I made Biochar Burn baby! Burn

Can this be used in another grade level? YES! This experiment can be changed in several different ways to fit different grade levels. For example, high school students will measure 10% biochar, whereas middle school students may be given the 10% biochar. You do not have to do the experiment with biochar only! You can change the pH of the soil and have the students determine which environment is more suitable for the worms.

Results Collected Checked every Monday for 3 weeks Week 1: No Biochar( 8) vs. Biochar with soil (12) Week 2: No Biochar (7) vs. Biochar with soil (13) Week 3: No Biochar (7) vs. Biochar with soil (13)

Let’s try it! This is a simulation of the actual project that can be done in your classroom Form groups of 5 or more Choose your role in the group Collector for both types of soil Worm feed collector Worm collector There are stations set up to collect your materials Follow the actual lesson plan manual to see if you would like to do this project within your classroom. Some instruction may be different due to the number of people in the audience and the amount of time.

Where can you find my lesson plan Go to tab What’s New Wiggling with Biochar NSTA conference How to make Biochar: http://www.biochar-international.org/sites/default/files/1G_Toucan_TLUD_for_Biochar.pdf Information about Biochar: http://www.s-o-solutions.org/biochar.html http://www.biochar-international.org/teachers/schools

Works Cited http://www.sciberbrain.org/Events/DialogueinScienceCPD.aspx http://wonderworman.com/ http://www.tiptopbio.com/product_red_worms.html