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

2. Lesson Plan
This lesson plan was created for high school students to become more familiar with NC Essential Standards:
EEn 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.

3. 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

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

5. 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?

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

7. 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.

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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. How I made Biochar
Burn baby! Burn

14. 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.

15. 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)

16. 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.

17. Where can you find my lesson plan
Go to tab What’s New
Wiggling with Biochar NSTA conference
How to make Biochar:
Information about Biochar:

18. Works Cited