Learning Intention: Explain that decomposers such as bacteria and fungi recycle nutrients vital for life Success Criteria: Define the term decomposer Identify examples of decomposers Describe how decomposers breakdown materials Set up a composter to see food decomposing Decomposers

Starter Activity: What does the following word mean to you?Nutrient Mind map as many ideas as you can think of related to this word.

What are decomposers? Decomposers are organisms that get their energy from dead plant and animal material. To get the energy from the material, they break down the large complex chemicals. Some of the nutrients then get returned to the environment.

Can you identify decomposers? B. EarthwormsA. Field Mouse C. Bacteria D. BlackbirdE. Fungi F. Potatoes

Can you identify decomposers? B. Earthworms C. Bacteria E. Fungi

Decomposers Some examples of decomposers are: Earthworms Bacteria Fungi

Bowl of Fruit Decomposing Dr. Yan's Decomposition Timelapse Decomposers

Decay This process is decay or decomposition, and it releases nutrients back into the environment ready to be reused by other organisms.

How to make compost The aim of this experiment is to make compost using food and garden waste from school and home.

How to make compost To make your compost bottle you will need: Two 2 litre plastic (water or juice) bottles with caps Sharp scissors Tights Waterproof tape A rubber band Follow the instruction card to make your composter.

Multiple-choice quiz

Rot Box In 2011, Edinburgh Zoo set up a ‘Rot Box’. The Rot Box experiment looked at decay and rot. Filmed over two months, the Rot Box captured how food and waste decayed in a kitchen and a garden. Rot Box Webcast (40 minutes)

The Nitrogen Cycle Learning Intention: To understand how nutrients are recycled in the environment Success Criteria: Explain the importance of the nitrogen cycle to the environment Explain the importance of decomposers in the environment Identify examples decomposers

Nutrient Cycles Living organisms need certain nutrients to stay alive e.g. nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, mineral salts. These nutrients are often in limited supply so it is important that they are recycled within the ecosystem.

Activity 1 Watch the video clip and write down three facts. Nitrogen Cycle

Why do we need nitrogen? All living things need nitrogen to make protein. Plants get nitrogen by taking in nitrates from the soil and converting them into protein. Animals obtain nitrogen by eating plants or other animals.

What is the nitrogen cycle?

Labelling the nitrogen cycle

How nitrogen gets into the soil Nitrogen in the soil is in the form of nitrates. Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) break down dead plants and animals and this adds nitrate to the soil. Other bacteria in the soil (nitrogen fixing bacteria) absorb nitrogen from the air and make it into nitrates. Nitrogen in the air Nitrates in the soil

How farmers add nitrogen to the soil Fertilisers contain nitrates, so when farmers use these, it adds nitrate to the soil. These could be natural fertilisers like manure or chemical fertilisers. Some special plants, called leguminous plants, can make nitrates for themselves using nitrogen in the air. Examples of such plants are peas, beans and clover. Farmers sometimes grow clover in a field, then plough it into the soil. This increases the nitrogen in the soil and means that crops grown after this will be better. Leguminous plant fixing nitrogen

How nitrogen is lost from the soil Some bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas and release it into the air. Rainwater can carry nitrates away from the soil. This is called leaching. When farmers remove crops, and do not allow any plants to decompose, this reduces the nitrates in the soil. This is why fertilisers need to be used. Nitrogen in the air Nitrates in the soil

Nitrogen Cycle Twig Video: Nitrogen Cycle StudyJams

Nitrates in soil The Nitrogen Cycle Fact finding mission: What happens at each of the points on the diagram? Work with your partner to find out the 5 key points of the nitrogen cycle

The importance of the nitrogen cycle The nitrogen cycle is very important to all living things. Nitrogen is needed to make proteins. Proteins are used to make lots of different parts of a living thing. Nitrates in soil Nitrogen fixing bacteria convert nitrogen gas into nitrates

The Nitrogen Cycle Game In this game you will be a molecule of nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle. Find out all the places you travel to. Your teacher will explain what to do.

Nitrogen Cycle Game Write in each circle where you travel to.

The Nitrogen Cycle Learning Intention: To understand the importance of nitrogen to a plant Success Criteria: Investigate the effects of no nitrogen on a plant

Investigating the effect of fertilisers on the growth of plants Aim : To find out how different levels of fertiliser affect the growth of plants

Setting up the minipots You will need: -a set of minipots -4 wicks -growing mix - a spatula -fertiliser pellets -12 seeds -a dropper -a sticky label

Setting up the minipots growing mix seeds fertiliser pellets wick This is the order in which you put things in the pot. (from the bottom up) Each minipot is the same, except the number of fertiliser pellets

Setting up the minipots 1.Wet each wick thoroughly. Put one wick through the hole in the bottom of each minipot. Half of the wick should be outside and half inside. 2.Cover the hole under one minipot with your finger and half fill with growing mix. Push down gently into the corners. Repeat for the other 3 pots. 3.Mark the numbers 0, 1, 2 and 3 on the side of each pot. Add this number of fertiliser pellets to the pots. 4.Add more growing mix to fill to the top. Press down gently. 5.Add 3 seeds to each minipot. Cover with more growing mix. 6.Label the pot with your initials. 7.Water from above using a dropper until water drips through. 8.Place the minipot on the box under the lights for 5-7 days. 9.Compare the growth of each set of plants.

The contents of each minipot growing mix wick 3 seeds fertiliser pellets – add none, one, two or three

Keeping the minipots watered capillary matting water reservoir wick to soak up water from reservoir minipots

The Nitrogen Cycle Learning Intention: To understand how nutrients are recycled in the environment Success Criteria: Describe the role of microorganisms in the nitrogen cycle Define the term nitrogen fixation

Starter Draw out on the large show me boards the nitrogen cycle.

Microorganisms, called microbes for short, are very small living things that are often only made up of one cell. Bacteria and fungi are examples of microbes and they have very important jobs in the nitrogen cycle.

Looking at Microorganisms 1. Look at some examples of bacteria using a microscope Microscope tips 1.Always start with the lens with the lowest magnification (x4) 2.Use the big wheel to get the slide into focus 3.Use the small wheel to fine tune the focus and see your image more clearly 2. Draw what you see on a piece of paper using a sharp pencil

What do microorganisms do in the nitrogen cycle? Microorganisms called bacteria are needed in the nitrogen cycle. Special bacteria found in the soil change nitrogen in dead animals and plants into nitrates.

nitrogen fixation. Special bacteria found in the roots of some plants carry out a process called nitrogen fixation. During this process the bacteria change the nitrogen in the air spaces in the soil into nitrates. What do bacteria do in the nitrogen cycle? The roots of a nitrogen fixing plant, showing its root nodules. These nodules contain the nitrogen fixing bacteria. Nodules

Root Nodules Practical The root nodules of the broad bean contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Root Nodules Practical Wrap damp paper towel round the inside of the jar and place the bean seed between the damp paper and the jar. The bean should sprout in 4 days. Examine the roots carefully for the presence of nodules.

Find someone who… 1. Can name a nutrient that is recycled in the environment 2. Can explain why nitrogen is important to the environment 3. Name an example of a decomposer 3. Say what decomposers do in the nitrogen cycle 4. Can give an example of a microorganism involved in the nitrogen cycle 5. Can say what nitrogen fixation means 7. Can tell you another form of nitrogen in the environment 8. Can tell you two places nitrogen is found in the environment 1. Take a piece of A4 paper and fold it in half three times 2. When you unfold it you should have eight squares 3. Find a different person to tell you the answer to each of the questions below: