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Database Provider

Author

The Kid Should See This

Grades

6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Subjects

Science, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Resource Types

  • Video, 2 minutes, 55 seconds, CC, Subtitles
  • Article

Regional Focus

Global, Caribbean

Transforming Human Poop Into Eco-Friendly Fertilizer

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Synopsis
  • This resource provides an introduction to ecological sanitation, featuring a video about a team in Haiti that transforms human waste into nutrient-rich agricultural fertilizer.
  • Students will learn about this innovative method that is more cost-effective and also better for the planet than synthetic, fossil fuel-dependent fertilizers.
Teaching Tips

Positives

  • This short video is lighthearted with an engaging narrator and provides footage of this ecological sanitation team at work.
  • This resource provides an inspiring look at one way that a country has set up a healthy sanitation system while also supporting its own economy.

Additional Prerequisites

  • The National Geographic article "Human Waste to Revive Haitian Farmland?" may not immediately load from the link, so a search using keywords from the article title may be necessary.
  • The Dr. Sasha Kramer link is broken, but more information about her can be found on SOIL's website.
  • There is an ad at the end of the video.

Differentiation

  • Before watching the video, use a KWL chart to have students brainstorm what they already know about both Haiti and fertilizers and then generate questions they have about turning human waste into fertilizer.
  • Ask students to use the embedded link to SOIL's website and write persuasive paragraphs or create posters describing the organization and its many benefits.
  • Provide students with the opportunity to explore the 15 other links provided within this resource.
  • Pair students up to conduct more research on ecological farming practices, using resources such as this subtitled video about the benefits of regenerative farming practices or this resource about ecologicalĀ farming practices in Spain.
Scientist Notes
This website from The Kid Should See This provides a short description of a ~3 minute video about turning human poop into soil. The process of ecological sanitation is discussed along with a real-world example in Haiti. This resource would be a great addition to a classroom discussion on sustainability.
Standards

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.

  • Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
    • ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
      • MS-ESS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
    • LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
      • HS-LS2-7 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
  • College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
    • Dimension 4: Taking Informed Action
      • D4.6.6-8 Draw on multiple disciplinary lenses to analyze how a specific problem can manifest itself at local, regional, and global levels over time, identifying its characteristics and causes, and the challenges and opportunities faced by those trying to address the problem.
  • Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
    • Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
      • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
    • Reading: Science & Technical Subjects (6-12)
      • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.
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