1. Read Shel Silverstein's poem, "Sarah Sylvia Cynthia Stout, Would Not Take the Garbage Out." (This is found in his book, Where the Sidewalk Ends.) Then ask your children to list ingredients featured in the poem that Sarah actually could have composted and those that she should not have tried to compost.

2. Monitor the temperature of your compost pile after the addition of different materials. Brainstorm about how temperature affects the decomposition. (After adding green stuff, such as lawn clippings, the temperature should rise more than it does after the addition of brown stuff, such as dried leaves.)

3. In a portion of the pile, bury pieces of apples or other fruit near the surface. Soak some pieces in water and leave others dry. Have children guess which ones will decompose faster. After a couple of weeks, dig them up and see if there's any difference. Vary the sizes of the pieces and notice which ones – large or small – decompose faster. (Generally, smaller pieces decompose faster and moisture aids the process.)

4. Have children prepare two small plots: one with soil amended with plenty of compost and one that is not. To amend with compost, spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost on top of the soil and then dig it under. Grow identical plants in each plot and maintain them in the same manner. Notice any differences in the appearance and production between the plants in the two plots. (The plants grown in the compost-rich soil should have healthier-looking foliage and better production.)

5. Measure and chart the temperature and dimensions of the pile over time. Remember that the volume of a compost pile shrinks dramatically as the materials break down, so you will have far less finished product than you had raw ingredients. It is very impressive to children (and adults) to see this happen. When the kids apply the compost to the garden they will better understand how much organic matter it takes to improve the soil. Seeing, as they say, is believing.

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