Environmental Science

Exploring Soil pH Levels and Worm Farming!

This term, the students on the Heights Campus have been diving into the fascinating world of environmental science by learning about soil pH levels and worm farming. It’s been a hands-on experience full of exploration and discovery!

In our pH investigations, students explored the importance of pH levels in both soils and everyday household items. They made predictions about the pH level of each sample, then observed exciting colour changes using pH indicator solutions. Using a pH chart, students were able to match the colours to specific pH levels and draw conclusions from their results.

One of the most exciting discoveries was that our school’s soil is a perfect pH level of 7 – neutral! This means it’s ideal for growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The students were thrilled to learn that we have the perfect conditions right here in our school garden to support healthy plant growth.        

In addition to soil science, students have been learning all about worm farming and how worms play a vital role in protecting and enriching our environment. The MLC students constructed the worm farms by laying out the farm bedding, which had already been soaked to help it expand. Next, students carefully placed the worms onto the bedding, added the top tray, filled it with suitable food scraps, and covered everything with a special worm blanket.

To support this learning, each learning space now has its own compost bin for collecting food scraps that worms love – including vegetable peels, fruit scraps (excluding citrus), and eggshells. These bins will be emptied into the worm farms each week, helping to create nutrient-rich compost and reduce waste in our school.

We’re incredibly proud of our budding environmental scientists and the enthusiasm they’ve shown in caring for our school environment and for our planet! 

Mrs Jane McMahon

Environmental Science Teacher 

(Heights Campus)