Soil Study

We got down and dirty during our Soil Study today! After learning about the types and layers of soil and its importance small groups used magnifying lenses to examine soil samples and identify the organic material in them. I collected soil from my backyard because potting soil won't have a variety of material in it. Students drew and labeled what they discovered, then wrote reasons why soil is important. Material students dug up included moss, plant roots, mulch, pebbles, fetilizer, dead leaves, and even an acorn shell.

Some videos that help give students the dirt on soil are:

http://www.growingthenextgeneration.com/just-for-kids-videos-dirt-on-soil.html

 

http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/soil/preview.weml

Although BrainPop offers free videos, you'll need to set up an account for the soil one.

 

"The Rotten Journey:A Soil Story" is a stop motion animation that shows how decaying organic material can be turned into compost.