Biodegradable means to “break down and become part of the soil.” Unfortunately, many daily items we use such as plastic do not break down completely, filling the Earth with a lot of trash and causing unhealthy environment for people and animals. One way we can be responsible is by reducing usage of material that is not biodegradable. We can also reuse and recycle!
This simple experiment can be set up and observed over a week.
- Take a small piece of a paper grocery bag and a piece of a plastic bag and place them in a container with warm water.
- Observe daily. Paper will disintegrate, but plastic will remain unchanged.
- Discuss:
- What is happening? Which is biodegradable?
- What other materials in nature might break down on their own, without people being involved? Isn’t it amazing that God created the world with a process to handle “junk” like animal waste, fallen trees, and even dirt?
- Some materials can be used to make other useful products. For example, cow and chicken manure are used to make gardening soil mix! What other materials can be reused or recycled?
- How can the knowledge of biodegradable quality help build better gardens or make better products?
- What else can we do to be responsible stewards of the world God gave us?
Idea and detailed instructions: Kids of Integrity