Hi! I'd like to introduce a worm bin into my child's 22-kid second grade classroom this fall, but I wonder if a small bin would be over-full at the end of each week. I wish I could say that the kids don't throw away a lot of their lunch, but--! Many kids do bring their own lunch, but I'd say 5 to 10 buy lunch and these are the ones likely to dump larger quantities of food.

As a composter myself, I know that cheese and meat don't go in the bin. Is that really hard to control in a classroom situation?

Does any one have experience in this who can advise me before I approach the school/teacher?

Thanks,

Teresa

I build bins in classrooms a lot here in Raleigh.
There is no way to build bins big enough to handle 22 kids, for inside a classroom.
A better idea is to build it so they can start to understand how it works, and how/why they should all be doing this at home.
Teachers love this Worm Bin for study, as it encompasses all areas of the curriculum.
I would use either the 3 or 10 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck and let the kids build it, (drill holes, shred paper, add worms).

Thanks, Susan.
I'll have to read up on bin use, since I don't know how full it can be stuffed, or how to layer paper/food. What is your favorite source of information for this? Somewhere on this site?

Teresa

QUOTE:
I don't know how full it can be stuffed, or how to layer paper/food. What is your favorite source of information for this?

Stuffed is not something that would work well in any situation I can imagine.
The classroom bins are best run as a science experiment.<br><br>Post edited by: redhen, at: 2007/08/01 00:17

Teresa,

It might be a good idea if you have a practice run at home before launching yourself onto the stage. I would much prefer to make mistakes in the privacy of my under-house storage area than in front of 22 inquizitive little faces.

Best of luck,
Marshall

I think that I've seen lesson plans on line.