Lesson Description:
 In this activity students take a closer look at the soil in their garden, using a paper plate and magnifying glass.

Eco-fact: the average lawn has between 50 and 250 earthworms. These little critters help break down organic matter in our soil such as fallen leaves and trees.

Procedure:

• With your students, select an area to examine the soil. scoop up one cup of soil and bring it back to class for a closer examination.
• Once you are back in class, pour the dirt from the cup onto a paper plate.
• Using a magnifying glass, examine the soil particles.
• In their nature journals students can record their observations and answer questions such as:
  • How would you describe the texture of the soil?
  • What does the smell of the soil remind you of?
  • What colors do you see?
  • What size are the soil particles?
  • Ddd a drop of water to a pinch of soil.
  • Students can then record how the soil changed when water was added by answering questions such as:
  • How did the soil change when water was added to it?
  • What does it look like?
  • How does it feel?

• On the page with their observations have the class glue a pinch of soil in their nature journals.

Adaptations:

• During their investigation, what else can the kids find in the soil? Critters? Worms? Creepy-crawlies? Have them draw pictures of them in their nature journals.

Extensions:

• If students can identify the wildlife found in the soil, ask them to record their wildlife names, too.…
• Students come up with some fun and original wildlife names of their own!

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Lesson Type:

• Other

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Sustainability Topic:

• Gardening

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GEF Program Category:

• Green Thumb Challenge

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Materials Needed:
plastic cup
paper plate
magnifying glass
glue
nature journal

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