🍌 Dirt, Decomposition & Doing Good—Let’s Make Composting Cool This Summer!


The Conscious Classroom

Simple, sustainable STEM projects that reduce waste, spark curiosity, and inspire young minds.

Hi Reader,

Looking for an upcoming summer activity that’s simple, screen-free, and secretly educational?
Let’s talk composting—a hands-on way for kids to learn about nature, food waste, and taking care of the planet... all while getting their hands delightfully dirty.

To help you get started, I’ve put together two thoughtful resources:

📚 A curated list of compost-themed picture books:
These stories spark curiosity and break down composting in kid-friendly, colorful ways.
👉 Browse the book list here

🪱 Simple, hands-on composting activities for kids:
Perfect for your backyard (or even your countertop), these activities help kids connect the dots between what we eat, what we throw away, and how we can give it new life.
👉 Explore the activities here

Thanks to a newsletter subscriber’s recommendation, I’ve created my booklist suggestions on Bookshop.org—a platform that makes it easy to support independent bookstores while discovering great reads.

✨ When you shop through Bookshop.org:

  • A portion of every purchase supports local, independent bookstores.
  • You’re backing a certified B Corp committed to ethical, equitable business.
  • And you're helping make the book-buying experience a little more sustainable—just like composting.

In full transparency: I receive a small commission if you choose to purchase a book through my list. Thank you in advance for supporting my small business—it truly means the world!

So whether you’re diving into a story about worms or building a compost jar together, you’re making small choices that lead to big impact—for your family and your community.

Let’s keep it cool, keep it green, and keep it thoughtful this summer.

Sustainably yours,
Jess
Founder of Thoughtfully Sustainable

$5.00

Composting Basics

Do you want a simple activity to help teach your kids the difference between the browns and greens of composting?... Read more

$3.00

Composting Crossword Puzzle

Introduce your learners to the sustainable practice of composting with a fun crossword puzzle, complete with background... Read more

Thoughtfully Sustainable

Are you a parent or teacher that’s looking to integrate science and sustainability concepts into your learners’ lives? I’m here to help! My name is Jessica and I’m a science teacher and mom that creates hands-on sustainability and STEM lessons for grades K-8 to cultivate critical thinking skills and foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Read more from Thoughtfully Sustainable

The Conscious Classroom Simple, sustainable STEM ideas that reduce waste, spark curiosity, and inspire young minds., Hi Reader, If you’re in that strange, quiet space between Christmas and New Year’s — where pajamas are acceptable all day and suddenly the kids’ rooms feel very full — you’re not alone. If LEGO bricks are part of your post-holiday cleanup plans, there’s a way to declutter that feels genuinely good. I just shared a new blog post all about LEGO Replay, a program that lets...

Sustainability Advent Calendar

The Conscious Classroom Simple, sustainable STEM projects that reduce waste, spark curiosity, and inspire young minds. Hi friends, If you’re looking for a simple, meaningful way to slow down this December and weave in some everyday sustainability with your kids, I made something just for you. Introducing the Thoughtfully Sustainable Advent Calendar — a set of two printable pages designed to help families shift the focus from “more stuff” to “more intention.” For $5.00, you’ll get: Printable...

Gameboard designed with 3D printed pieces

The Conscious Classroom Simple, sustainable STEM projects that reduce waste, spark curiosity, and inspire young minds. Hi friends, As we head into gift-giving season, I’ve been thinking about the toys our kids actually return to over and over again. So many toys end up in the “play once and forget” category, but creativity-driven tools with long-term use are worth the upfront investment. One of the best examples in our home is our Toybox 3D printer. We’ve had it for four years, and my son...