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Is Soil Alive? (K-2nd) | Series 1, Lesson #1

Is Soil Alive?

Key Topics/Vocabulary: Soil, Soil Formation, Food Web, Decomposition, Bacteria, Sand, Clay, Humus, Silt

Grade Levels: K-2nd

#1 Series Description

Spanish Lesson Plan

Science Framework

Lesson Video

Lesson Bridge:

Begin this series by emphasizing that soil is the foundation of all life. Because of this, we need to ensure that our soil is healthy so our plants can grow big and strong!

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, students will learn that soil is home to billions of organisms that play vital roles in decomposition and ecosystem health. Students will use their senses to discover the qualities of different soil types and understand what these qualities provide for plants regarding food, water, and shelter. They will then practice setting up an experiment to test which mixture of soils helps support plant growth best!

Learning Objectives by Grade Level:


Essential Question(s) that Connect CCCs and SEPs:

Vocabulary:

Soil - Mixture of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and microorganisms.

Sand- Mixture of very small particles or pieces of rocks and minerals

Clay- Mixture of tiny tiny particles or pieces of minerals

Silt - Small particles or pieces left as sediment from water

Loam - A blend of sand, silt, and clay that is ideal for plant growth

Materials:

Prep:

Find good examples of clay, silt, and sand, to bring to the school for demonstration (or, identify which soil types already exist in your garden). You should be able to gather some humus/organic matter from your compost in the garden. Arroyos, like the Salinas River, are good places to find sand. Silt can be found in creek beds. Look for clay from the soil gophers bring up from their holes or the edges of lakes.

Activity Procedure:

Engage:  

What are germs? Think, Pair, Share

Germs are living things that are too tiny to see that can make us sick. Bacteria is a type of germ that is found in the soil. Some of the bacteria found in soil can make us sick which is why it is good to wash our hands after gardening. But most of the bacteria in soil actually help our plants to grow! Who can guess how many bacteria live in a spoonful of soil? Over 10 billion!!! More bacteria than people who live on the earth.

Explore:

We are going to go to 4 different stations to look, touch, listen, and smell. As you go to each station, try telling your friends what you notice and wonder.

Sentence Frame: I notice ______. I wonder_______.

Gather students into 4 groups, direct them to the different tubs of soil, and observe using their eyes, hands, ears, and noses (not tongues!) If you choose,  you can also have the same soils in wet and dry form so the kids can experience the differences … but be prepared for a mess! After several minutes at each station, bring them back to the main seating area.

Explain:

There are different types of soils because of the size of the rocks that break down to make soil, come in different sizes. For example, looking closely at the sand, you can see the tiny rocks. In clay, the rocks are so tiny you can’t see them. Another important part of the soil is the humus. Repeat after me “HUE-MUSS.” This is the living part of the soil made up of dead leaves, sticks, and tiny living things.

Think, Pair, Share:  What tiny living things might you find in the soil?

Bacteria, mushrooms, and bugs all can be found in soil. All of these things help plants in our garden to grow. It is always good to have soil that is rich in humus. 

        Thumbs up/down: Do you think there is hummus in the soil in the garden?

Action: Garden Soil Exploration

  1. Review your Garden Agreements
  2. Provide each student with a trowel and encourage them to dig around and explore different parts of the garden. *If you do not have enough trowels, break students into groups (taking turns with the trowel) or complete this step as one large group and ask for volunteers to take samples.
  1. If you have a compost pile, invite the kids to dig around! Have them dig under bushes and under rocks to see how the soil changes.
  1. Encourage students to look closely at what they see in the garden; maybe they can even identify some decomposers that help make soil! If you have magnifying glasses, instruct students to look for soil creatures.

Reflect:

Bring students back to the main seating area and practice one calming breath to reset.

What did you notice about the soil you looked at in the garden? Think, Pair, Share What were places where the soil was wet? What about dry? Did you find any bugs?

What kinds? Could you see tiny rocks in the soil? What else did you see in the soil? Do you think the soil had a lot of humus? Would plants grow well in the soil?

Extension Activities:

This lesson was prepared by One Cool Earth under award

NA20NOS4290033 from the Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S.

Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and

recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect

the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

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