MACON, Ga. – Georgia elementary classes in third through fifth grades put their science, technology, engineering and math skills to work in the 2024 Fall STEM Challenge, Turning Trash Into Treasure. Special education classes, homeschool groups and community or after-school groups participated in this hands-on sustainability project.
The challenge tasked students with answering the question: “Why is composting important, and how do brown and green materials break down differently?” To explore this, students created compost bins, documented the decomposition of organic waste and shared their findings through creative video presentations.
First-place winners were selected in four categories: after-school groups, third grade, fourth grade and fifth grade. Each received a prize package totaling $350 for their class.
The Ithica Elementary Garden Club from Carroll County, led by Lura Scruggs, won first place in the after-school category for their teamwork, detailed research and creative use of compost to enrich their school garden.