In this lesson, students use chemical reactions that occur in landfills and composting as a vehicle to learn about chemical changes found in their daily lives.

Step 1 - Inquire: Students learn about landfills, create their own landfill, and begin to discern issues landfills may cause.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students explore the idea of chemical changes and their relationship with landfills through a series of articles, videos, and interactive resources.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students view the results of an investigation started in the Inquire section, compare the chemical differences between landfills and composting, and reflect on the different effects on communities.