Mix It Up! a Composting Program for Early Learners
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Provided by: Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition|Published on: June 5, 2026
Activity - ClassroomScientist Reviewed
K12
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Synopsis
- This resource is a collection of activities for teaching young learners about composting, centered around the picture book “Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth” by Mary McKenna Siddals.
- Activities include a suggested story, a felt board activity, fingerplay activities, and a coloring page.
Subjects: Science, English Language Arts
Authors: IFSCC & ICAW team members
Region: Global, Illinois
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- These activities are great for learners of all kinds, incorporating approaches for many different learning styles.
- The fingerplay suggestions include songs and concepts that are familiar to and enjoyed by many students.
Prerequisites
- Teachers will need colored felt and a felt board for the activity. Teachers who don’t have these materials can achieve a similar result with printed images that can be put on a whiteboard or bulletin board.
- Teachers may want to ensure that students are familiar with the song “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider”.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can keep a classroom compost bin and use the students’ drawings in the area around the bin to serve as reminders.
- The story can easily be incorporated into reading time for classrooms that have limited science class time available.
- By learning about composting, students will build foundational knowledge for eventually learning about food waste and its related methane emissions and climate impacts.
This resource introduces composting to younger students. It provides activity ideas to go along with an A to Z picture book. Students will learn what compost is made of and why it is beneficial to the environment. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
