← Back to course
Science Launch G5 / Week 08 / Wednesday
3/6
Week 08 · Food Webs

Wednesday

Investigation: Leaf litter safari
// Matter moves among plants, animals and decomposers
⏱ about 15 min

Wednesday: Investigation: Leaf litter safari

Rocket and Raven pull on garden gloves. They each hold a magnifier and a paper plate.

"Our mission," Raven says, "is to find decomposers in a pile of old leaves."

Rocket digs in fast. "Whoa, slow down," Raven says. "Gently. Look first."

Nova hovers low over the leaves. "Lift one layer at a time," she says. "What do you notice about the leaves at the bottom compared to the top?"

Rocket lifts a damp leaf. A roly-poly curls into a tiny ball. "Found one!" he whispers.

What you need

  • Garden gloves
  • A magnifier
  • A white paper plate
  • A pile of old fallen leaves outdoors, or under a bush
Safety first
A grown-up comes with you and chooses the spot.
Wear gloves. Do not touch mushrooms or anything with bare hands.
Never put leaves, soil or mushrooms near your mouth.
Put every creature back where you found it, gently.
Wash your hands with soap when you finish.

Steps

  1. Make your prediction below.
  2. Gently lift the top layer of leaves onto your plate.
  3. Look closely with the magnifier.
  4. Lift the next layer, closer to the ground. Look again.
  5. Record each decomposer you spot in the table.
  6. Return the leaves and creatures to the pile.
MAKE A PREDICTION
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Where do you predict you will find more broken-down leaves and decomposers?
LayerDecomposers I saw (worms, roly-polies, fungi threads, other)How broken down were the leaves?
Top layer
Bottom layer

The bottom leaves have been there longest. Decomposers have had more time to break them down.

Over time, those leaves become part of the soil. Their materials can help new plants grow.

Name one decomposer you could find in leaf litter. Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEDecomposers live where dead leaves collect, because that is their food.

What the layers showed

Top leaves were often dry and whole.

Bottom leaves were usually damp and more broken down.

Decomposers have had more time to work on the bottom leaves.

SAFARI THINKING
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Why did we put every creature back?
Why wear gloves and never touch mushrooms with bare hands?
StatementTrue or false?
Roly-polies are decomposers.?
Old leaves can become part of the soil.?
The top leaves have been there the longest.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEBottom leaves are oldest and most broken down.

You were a field scientist today. Tomorrow we will see how matter goes around and around.

← Tuesday