Mathletes at Lincoln

Medicinal Herbs

2010-03-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Lifelab has a wheel and garden showing medicinal herbs. We in LEAF are making a similar wheel, but ours is more totally awesome!!!

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Directions to Make our worm bin!! (materials are here)

2010-03-17T18:36:00.001-07:00

WORMS MAKE DIRT!!! how cool is that?

Worms can compost garbage faster than any other type of composting method. Worms also are very efficient in digesting kitchen food wastes. Each day a worm eats half its weight in food. The care and feeding of worms take far less effort than maintaining an outdoor compost pile. Some of the realized benefits of keeping a worm bin include: recycling kitchen food waste, reducing waste disposal costs, producing soil amendments or fertilizer for house and garden plants, and having a ready supply of fishing worms.

A worm bin is a self contained system. As with any system, several components are involved. This system is composed of a box to contain the worms (see back for a description of how to build a worm bin); the worms themselves; a controlled environment; and regular maintenance procedures.

Red worms are the most satisfactory worms to use in a home vermicomposting (composting with worms) system. The species of red worm best suited for a worm bin is Eisenia foetida pronounced "I see nee a fet id a." Eisenia Foetida is known by several common names: red worm, brandling worm, red wiggler, manure worm, and fish worm among others. Starter worms of this species for a worm bin may be found in old compost piles (ones that no longer generate any heat) or from local bait suppliers.

Once the worm bin is constructed, make bedding for the worms with shredded and moistened newspaper or cardboard. Maintain the system by burying food wastes throughout the bin on a rotational basis. Every three to six months, move the compost to one side of the bin and add new bedding to the empty half. The worms will soon move to the new bedding. Harvest the compost and add new bedding to the rest of the bin.

Materials:
1 4 foot x 8 foot x 1/2" sheet exterior plywood
1 14 foot construction grade 2" x 4"
1 16 foot construction grade 2" x 4"
1 lb 4d galvanized nails
1/4 lb. 16d galvanized nails
2 3" door hinges

Tools:
Tape measure, skill saw or rip hand saw, hammer, saw horses, long straight edge or chalk snap line, screwdriver, chisel, wood glue, and drill with 1/2" bit. Use eye and ear protection.

Construction Details:

Measure and cut plywood as indicated on drawing A above. To make base, cut the 14 foot 2" x 4" into five pieces: two 48" and three 20" long. The remaining 12" piece will be used in making the sides as described below. Nail the 2" x 4"s together on edge with two 16d nails at each joint as illustrated in diagrams. Nail the plywood piece onto the 2"x 4" frame using the 4d nails.

To build the box, cut three 12" pieces from the 16 foot 2" x 4". Place a 12" 2" x 4" under the end of each side panel so that the 2" x 4" is flush with the top and side edges of the plywood, and nail the boards into place. Nail the side pieces onto the base frame. To complete the box, nail the ends onto the base and sides. To reinforce the box, place a nail at least every 3 inches wherever plywood and 2" x 4"s meet. Drill twelve 1/2" holes through the bottom of the box for drainage.

To build the lid as illustrated in diagram D, cut the remainder of the 16 foot 2" x 4" into two 51" lengths and two 27" pieces. Cut lap joints in the corners (see diagram C), then glue and nail the frame together. Center the plywood onto the 2" x 4" frame and nail with 4d nails. Lay top on ground with plywood surface touching the ground. Attach hinges to the top and back. Position hinges so the screws go through plywood and 2" x 4"s.

Construction plans courtesy of the Washington State Energy Extension Office, Seattle, WA

Questions and Answers about keeping Earthworms in bins

What kind of worms should be used?
Red worms are the most satisfactory to use in home vermicomposting systems. They process large amounts of organic material in their natural habitats of manure, compost piles, or decaying leaves. They reproduce quickly and in confinement.

What do worms eat?
Any vegetable waste generated during food preparation such as; potato peelings, grapefruit and orange rinds, cantaloupe and watermelon rinds, outer leaves of cabbage and lettuce. Plate scrapings, spoiled food from the refrigerator, coffee grounds, tea leaves or egg shells are waste that you may want to feed your worms.

Burial of meat is not recommended because decaying meat can produce offensive odors. Mice and rats are more likely to be attracted to worm bins containing meat. Some other things that don't belong are plastic bags, bottle caps, rubber bands, sponges, aluminum foil and glass.

How much do worms eat?
It is recommended that the worm to garbage ratio be 2:1. Worms are usually sold in terms of "pounds" rather than number. Use one pound of worms (about 1,000) to 1/2 pound of daily garbage. An average family of four generates about 7 pounds of compostable garbage per week.

To create an environment for the worms to "eat" this much garbage, the worm bin should be equal to one square foot of surface for each pound of garbage per week.

Do worms die in the box?
Worms will die in any home worm bin, but in a properly maintained worm bin, you will rarely see a dead worm.

How long does a worm live?
Most worms probably live and die within the same year. Yet, in culture, Eisenia foetida, the type of worms in this box have been kept as long as four and a half years.

Where can more information about worms be found?
A good general reference about keeping worms is identified below.
Appelhof, Mary. Worms Eat My Garbage Kalamazoo, MI: Flower Press; 1982

Earthworm Bibliography
Appelhof, Mary. Worms Eat My Garbage. Kalamazoo, MI: Flower Press. 1982. 100p
Goldstein, Jerome. Recycling. New York: Schocken Books. 1979. 238p
Henwood, Chris. Keeping Minibeasts: Earthworms. London:Franklin Watts. 1988. 29p
Jennings, Terry. Junior Science: Earthworms. New York: Gloucester Press. 1988. 24p
Martin, Deborah and Grace Gershuny. The Rodale Book of Composting. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale Press. 1992. 278p

Earthworm Sources
Joberta Crossin. P.O. Box 186, Clarkston, MO 63837 Phone:(573) 448-3302

Janet Folk, Rabbit-Worm Connection, Rt 4, Box 294, Rogersville, MO 65742 Phone: (417) 753-3423

Larry Martin, Vermitechnology Unlimited, P.O. Box 130, Orange Lake, FL 32681 Phone: (352) 591-1111 Fax: (352) 591-4550

Dave Metzger, Rt. 3, Box 291, Owensville, MO 65066 Phone: (573) 437-3605

Richard Phelps, Phelps Worm Farm, Rt 1, Box 433, Silva, MO 63963 Phone: (573) 783-3944

Cape Cod Worm Farm, 30 Center Ave., Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 Phone: (508) 759-5664

Carter Fishworm Farm, Plans, GA 31780 Phone: (912) 824-7707

Ron Clausen, 2111 N. Century Blvd, McDavid, FL 32568 Phone: (904) 256-2845

Dan Matura, National Rabbit Enterprises, Box 913, Rogers, AR 72751 Phone: (501) 636-8376

The Potted Thorne Nursery, Box 278, Lake Elsinore, CA 92531 Phone: (714) 674-7041

Oregon Soil Corporation, 1324 Beaver Lane, Oregon City, OR 97045 Phone: (503) 557-9742

Composting Companion, John Reid, 2409 Fleetwood, Columbia, MO 65202 Phone: (573) 474-9293

Noelle Marchand-Koch, 2501 Brookside Ct., Columbia, MO 65201 Phone: (573) 443-4271

This listing of businesses does not constitute endorsement or approval by the Department of Natural Resources or eDork

Special Thanks to the fun folks at:

Planning Unit
Solid Waste Management Program
P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573) 751-5401 office
(573) 526-3902 fax

Email questions and comments to: jhull01@mail.state.mo.us

More measuring!

2010-03-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

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Verbal Problems

2008-12-11T12:30:00.001-08:00

Tonight's Homework -

Level I Verbal Problems Packet
Page 136
Numbers 11-14
5 parts to every answer:
x as a unit
x as a number
original equation
check
Answer to the question

Algebra!

2008-11-21T12:23:00.000-08:00

We have sucessfully completed Bits and Pieces II and have begun a new term of math. We have already completed Level I of Hands on Equations in the workbook and are currently working on Verbal Problems. We are determining the measure of "x" (the variable/"unknown") in the problems and creating equations to match. Soon we will enter Level II. Some of us have already had experience with Hands on Equations and others have just been introduced. Everyone has been successful at manipulating the materials and solving the problems and we are excited to keep learning about algebra!

Transitioning Teachers

2008-10-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

As the school year progresses Ms. McKell is becoming more of the lead teacher. She has begun the transition to full time teaching with the Math class. For the next few weeks Ms. McKell will be the lead teacher for Math. She will be working with students through Bits and Pieces II which focuses on percentages, fractions, and decimals. The students are picking up quickly and showing that this is mostly review and easily completed with some instruction.

Homework has been from work done in class to continue to strengthen the concepts of percents though ideas such as tax, tips, and discounts.

I look forward to working with your students this term. I can be contacted through Ms. Vaughn's email account: tvaughn@mv.k12.wa.us

Ms. Jessica McKell

Ordering and Converting Fractions

2008-09-18T11:48:00.001-07:00

Convert and Order the Following:

3/1, .1, 4/5, .31, 3/4, .513

2008-09-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Tonight's Homework:

1. Write Juan's rule for dividing fractions

2. Show (picture)
3 divided by 1/2

Guest

2008-09-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday in math we were visited by Aviathar Pemberton, a general contractor. We discussed how he uses converting fractions in his job .We discussed making additions to houses and buiklding roofs. We also discovered that our room is about 1,024 square feet!
This led to our homework to design a 1,000 square foot house with at least one bedroom, one kitchen, one bathroom, and one living room. We will be sharing our designs today.

2008-09-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight's assignment:

Draw a design for a 1,000 square foot houes with a 12.2 pitch roof.
Record in your graphing notebook.

Hmmm . . . Interesting teacher. But does it make sense??

2008-09-08T22:56:00.000-07:00

The What Property?

2008-09-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

6.1.A Continued

2008-09-05T14:17:00.001-07:00

Well, the first performance expectation is a doozey!! We are still working on a deep understanding of fractions and decimals. This weekend, students will be working on a "Fraction Art" piece. They are exploring the fractions (up to 1/32) between 0 and 1. They should create an art piece that reflects a deep understanding of this magical area.

Many students, that could convert between decimals and fractions, had trouble plotting these numbers on a number line. We will be working with this concept deeply until we have mastery.

You can help by having the kids measure things to the nearest 1/16 of an inch!!!

6.1.A

2008-09-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

About half of us were very successful at ordering and comparing fractions and decimals. At first it was a bit tricky to compare 4/5's to 43/50's, but we picked that up pretty quickly. We had a lesson today reviewing equivalent fractions, many of us need some review on this topic. We will need to continue practicing this skill.