A lesson idea to encourage investigative and enquiry skills around the theme of decomposition of different materials. The learning culminates in giving opportunities for pupils to develop important presentation skills.

KS2 Science

Working scientifically

• reporting and presenting findings from enquiries…in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations
• identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments

Living things and their habitats

• describe how living things are classified into broad groups (focus on micro-organisms)

Properties and changes of materials

• compare and group together everyday materials on the basis of their properties

Learning objectives

Understand the term ‘decompose’

To compare the time it takes for different materials to decompose