http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/cub_/lessons/cub_bio/cub_bio_lesson06.xmllessontext/xmlIntegrated Teaching and Learning Program, animalbiologybioremediationdecomposerearthwormenvironmentfungiinteractionmicroorganismnutrientplantrecyclingwormbiodomebioremediationdecomposerdecompositionfungus earthwormecosystemengineerenvironment

Students investigate decomposers and the role of decomposers in maintaining the flow of nutrients in an environment. Students also learn how engineers use decomposers to help clean up wastes in a process known as bioremediation. This lesson concludes a series of six lessons in which students use their growing understanding of various environments and the engineering design process, to design and create their own model biodome ecosystems.

Bioremediation is any process that uses natural living things to return an environment altered by contaminants to its original condition. Engineers use decomposers such as earthworms, fungi and bacteria in environmental clean-up efforts through bioremediation, for example, to clean up oil and chemical spills. Bioremediation technology examples include bioventing, landfarming, bioreactors and biostimulation. This use of biological agents to restore damaged eco-systems to healthier states is especially beneficial because it has less impact on the natural environmental than other processes. Also, some engineers design new products so they decompose on purpose, such dissolvable stitches, packing material, temporary tear duct plugs, plastic grocery bags, biodegradable plates and flatware.Define decomposers.List two examples of decomposers and how they affect the environment.Explain how engineers use decomposers for bioremediation of the environment.20TeachEngineering.orgKatherine BeggsMalinda Schaefer ZarskeDenise W. Carlsonhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cub_/lessons/cub_bio/cub_bio_lesson06_post_unit_quiz.dochttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cub_/lessons/cub_bio/cub_bio_lesson06_post_unit_quiz.pdfhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cub_/lessons/cub_bio/cub_bio_lesson06_post_unit_quiz_answers.dochttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cub_/lessons/cub_bio/cub_bio_lesson06_post_unit_quiz_answers.pdfhttp://www.dictionary.comhttp://anthro.palomar.edu/animal/table_kingdoms.htmPadilla, Michael J. Science Explorer: From Bacteria to Plants. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002.http://health.howstuffworks.com/question611.htmS1141715International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyB. Waste must be appropriately recycled or disposed of to prevent unnecessary harm to the environment.35S11416E7International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyF. A subsystem is a system that operates as a part of another system. 35S1142567ColoradoSciencec. Compare and contrast different habitat types 44S1142568ColoradoScienced. Create and evaluate models of the flow of nonliving components or resources through an ecosystem 44United StatesCopyright 2012 - Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulderhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2011-11-234Teacher