Students will launch the compost design challenge, examine firsthand evidence from cafeteria waste and urban ecosystem impacts, identify who is affected, and create an initial set of evidence-based problem statements and inquiry questions that guide the next phase.

Students will analyze cafeteria waste evidence, investigate decomposition and nutrient cycling, learn from outside experts, and use source evaluation, peer feedback, and iteration to develop an evidence-based compost solution direction for their school.

Students will use evidence from waste data, decomposition observations, and stakeholder needs to design a school compost system, predict how it should work, plan how to build and test it, and improve it through critique and revision.

Students will implement their compost system ideas in a short real-world test, collect evidence about decomposition conditions and user experience, and analyze results to decide how well their design could reduce cafeteria food waste while supporting plant growth and limiting urban ecosystem problems.

Students will present the story of their compost design learning by selecting evidence from their waste audit, decomposition tests, prototype revisions, and stakeholder feedback, then completing a final reflection that explains growth in science understanding, collaboration, communication, and community impact.