Buried treasure in the bin

The worms are being loved at St Paul's school, Ngaaruawaahia

Co-founded by Waikato District and Regional Councils; the Enviroschools environmental action-based programme extends across 26 schools in our district. Young people are empowered to design and lead sustainability projects in their schools and early learning centres, and beyond.

Where the scraps go

What started as a simple question about food scraps has grown into a story of student leadership, living systems, and learning shared across year levels.

When students at St Paul’s noticed that classroom food waste was not being separated from landfill rubbish, the Year 7 and 8 students in Manuka Class decided to take action. Their solution began with an unused Hungry Bin uncovered in a school shed. They had a worm farm; now they needed to learn how to use it, care for it, and help the rest of the school use it well.

In May, Enviroschools facilitator Adrienne brought in some tiger worms and helped the students set up their worm farm, then they started to explore what worms need to grow. They quickly discovered that looking after a Hungry Bin is both an art and a science. The bin needed regular monitoring, so the worms had the right balance of food scraps, moisture, air and carbon material.

At first, it was smelly and full of fruit flies, a sign that there was too much nitrogen-rich food waste. The students responded by mixing in scrap paper and leaves, learning how to get the balance right through observation, adjustment, and care.

Their teacher, Whaea Abby, described the process as a work in progress.

In June, the smell had gone and the flies were disappearing, but the worms were still not eating much. Students tried burying food deeper, covering the top of the bin to reduce flies, and setting up a roster so student monitors could manage what went into the food-scrap bins.

Come July, a committed group of students had taken responsibility for the worm farm. There were no flies, and a good layer of soil and leaf litter covered the surface. When the worms slowed down over winter, the students learned that colder days affected how much they ate.

Whaea Abby acknowledged an extension science group of Year 7 and 8 students absolutely loved learning about the worms and their needs. The worm farm made a massive turn around by August. It no longer smelled, the flies had gone, and the group of students had genuinely taken ownership.

What began as a waste issue had become a learning opportunity that was making a real difference in the school. Students were checking conditions, making decisions, and seeing that caring for worms required patience, attention and teamwork.

Connection across the school

A small moment on the school field was a new opportunity for learning. Some Year 1 and 2 students found a worm and wanted to look after it. They built a small home from soil, collected fallen lemons to feed it, and then asked if it could live in the school worm farm. Their teacher was unsure, so she turned to Manuka Class for help.

This became a rich Tuaakana—Teeina* opportunity. The senior students visited the junior class. They gave a talk about worms, explained the difference between earthworms and tiger worms, and shared what worms can and cannot eat. They helped the juniors cut up suitable food scraps, talked about why cardboard and paper are added to the bin, and went together to feed the worms.

The juniors started their own mini-inquiry, discovering that worms have five hearts, hatch from tiny cocoons, and eat fruit, vegetables and leaves, but not meat or citrus. Their writing showed the excitement of the experience, with many students writing more than usual because they were so interested.

That one wee worm found on the field spread to learning between classes. The seniors were proud to share their knowledge, and the juniors had a real reason to ask, observe and write.

Whaea Abby reflected, “The next step is to support more of this type of thing: more student-led learning, more shared responsibility, and more opportunities for older and younger learners to grow together.

Kindy visit discovery

Just last month Galbraith Kindergarten (also part of the Enviroschool network) were planting their garden and asked St Paul’s to help. A group of ten Manuka Class students pitched in and while there, noticed a smell. Being a student worm farm monitor, she knew from experience that it was a warning sign, and was able to identify the issues straight away. The kindy’s hungry box didn't have any paper in it, and they weren't chopping the food scraps small enough for the worms. St Paul’s is now going to establish a visit every Wednesday to help the younger students learn about the worm farm, and to play with them.

* Tuaakana—teeina is a traditional Maaori teaching and learning approach that describes the relationship between an older or more experienced person (tuaakana) and a younger or less experienced person (teeina).