Lesson Overview
Lesson developed by Anna Barr and Prairey Walkling under the direction and review of Aimee House Ladonski.
Objective
In this lesson, you will answer the questions: “What is soil?” and “How can you make garden soil?”
Vocabulary
- Words:
- Soil: Loose upper layer of the Earth’s surface.
- Compost: Decayed organic matter that makes new soil.
- Manure: Animal poop used to improve soil.
- Minerals: hard, stony substances that form rocks, sand, and clay
- Air: Tasteless, odorless, mix of gases that surround us.
- Organic matter: Materials that are living or were living, capable of decay.
- Nutrients: A substance needed for healthy growth, development, and functioning.
- Activity: You can help children become familiar with the vocabulary words by having them clap along to the syllables in each word.
Resources and Activities
Video
What’s the dirt on…dirt?: This video provides information on what dirt (soil) is made of. Courtesy of SciShow Kids.
- Video follow-up questions:
- What is the top layer that covers most of the land called? Answer: Soil or topsoil.
- Is soil the same everywhere? Answer: No.
- What are the 4 things soil is made up of? Answer: Minerals, water, air, and organic matter.
Book
Up in the Garden & Down in the Dirt: Sometimes appreciating what you see in nature requires understanding what you can't. Courtesy of Mrs. Clark's Reading Corner.
- Book follow-up questions:
- What did you see down in the dirt? Answer: Soil.
- What is the environment like in the soil? Answer: cool, damp, dark, many little creatures.
- At the end of the story, what happened to the plants? Answer: They were harvested and the "organic matter" that was left began to decay into the soil.
Soil Activity
Craft a Soil-arium: In this activity, kids learn about composting by crafting a “soil-arium.” Slowly, the contents will become soil to use in a garden. Courtesy of the Anaheim Family YMCA.
- Activity follow-up questions:
- What do you think will happen in the soil-arium? Answer: It will become garden soil.
- What are the four things soil is made up of ? Are those things in the soil-arium? Answer: Minerals, water, air and organic matter. Yes.
Nutrition Activities
- Dirt Made My Lunch: Listen to the song “Dirt Made My Lunch.” Follow along with the kids in the video to learn the words and motions. Courtesy of the Banana Slug String Band.
- Video follow-up questions:
- Where does everything we eat come from? Answer: The video says dirt. The true term is soil.
- What did you have for lunch?
- Lead your child though tracing each ingredient of the meal back to the soil like they did at the beginning of the video.
- Video follow-up questions:
- Edible Science: Soil Layers Activity: Youth will love making this educational version of the classic worms-and-dirt snack! Courtesy of Super Teacher.
Art Activity
Soil Painting: For this activity, you will need different samples of soil, water, paint brushes, cups and paper.
- Steps:
- Make mud with soil and water in the cups.
- Paint with the mud, comparing the color and texture of mud from different samples.
- Bonus: Go on a nature walk to find different colors in nature. Take samples of colorful items you find and “smash” them onto the painting for added color.
Adults, Learn More
- South Dakota State Soil (Houdek): Information on South Dakota's state soil, Houdek, pronounced hoo-dek (Figure 1). Courtesy of USDA NRCS.
- Composting in Home Gardens: A guide for creating a home garden compost depository. Courtesy of University of Minnesota Extension.
- Soil Testing Labs: A list of where to go for a soil test. Courtesy of SDSU Extension.
Contributors
Lesson Authors:
- Anna Barr
- Prairey Walkling
Other Contributors:
- Shelby Anderson
- Paulette Morse
- Ruth Smith
