SoilGrade level : Intermediate (Grade 3 and 4)

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONSWhat is soil?Why is soil important?What is the soil like in ourgarden? Is it healthy?How can we care for the soil?

FIRST PEOPLESPRINCIPLES OF LEARNING

Learning is holistic, reflexive,experiential, and relational(focused on connectedness, onreciprocal relationships, and asense of place.)Learning ultimately supports thewell-being of the self, the family,the community, the land, thespirits, and the ancestors.Learning involves patience andtime.

BIG IDEASScience 3All matter is made of particles (Soilcomposition includes sand, loam, and clay.The matter that makes up soil isimportant in determining soil health). Wind, water, and ice change the shape ofthe land (soil erosion is affected by theseelements). Science 4All living things sense and respond totheir environment (soil is the environmentin which plants grow; healthy soil resultsin healthy plants) Matter has mass, takes up space, and canchange phases (soil composition includessand, loam, and clay. The matter thatmakes up soil is important in determiningsoil health).

Soil | page 62CURRICULAR COMPETENCIES

Collect simple data (Collect soil for soil horizon test in garden) Identify some simple environmental implications of their actions andothers’ actions (Use soil test to tell about the overall health of soil andsuggest ways to make the soil healthier)Make simple inferences based on their results and prior knowledge (Ableto explain the effects of sand, loam, and clay in garden soil).

Collect simple data (Determining height of top, middle, and bottom layersof soil sample) Safely use appropriate tools to make observations and measurements(Conduct soil horizon test in garden)Sort and classify data and information using drawings and tables (Able toillustrate sand, loam, and clay composition in soil test) Identify some simple environmental implications of their actions andothers’ actions (Use soil test to tell about the overall health of soil andsuggest ways to make the soil healthier)

Connect mathematical concepts to each other and to other areas ofpersonal interestsTo develop a sense of how mathematics helps us to understand theenvironment (Soil testing helps us understand how to help our gardengrow)

Science 3

Science 4

Math 3 & 4

CONTENT

·Biodiversity in the local environment: thevariety of different types of living things inan ecosystemMatter is anything that has mass and takesup spaceObservable changes in the local environmentcaused by erosion

Science 3Biodiversity:

Soil | page 63CONTENT CONTINUED

Sensing and responding: plants (how plantsrespond to the soil in which they grow)The effect of temperature on particlemovement (soil temperature to determineplanting time)

Science 4

CORE COMPETENCIESSOCIAL

RESPONSIBILITY

Contributing tocommunity and caringfor the environment:Students developawareness and takeresponsibility for theirnatural environmentsby workingindependently andcollaboratively for thebenefit of theenvironment (gardencaretakers).

CRITICAL THINKING

Analyze and critique:Students learn toanalyze and drawconclusions (soiltesting experiment).Question andinvestigate:Students learn toengage in an inquiryand investigationwhere they identifyand explore questions(how do we make ourgarden healthier?).

ASSESSMENTStudents respond to one of the essentialquestions which were asked at the beginningof the inquiry. They may choose one of a variety of ways torepresent their learning (text, drama, visualarts, etc). A set of criteria may be established with theclass, in advance of beginning the assessmentof their learning (e.g. statements supported byevidence of learning).

MATERIALS:1 to 3 Mason jars (1 Liter or 1Quart size)Trowels or small shovelsWaterGarden/soil/park nearby to digup some soil

ACTIVITY OVERVIEWSoil is so much more than whatwe see on the top of the garden.It is the basis of all life. Itprovides the medium for plantgrowth, as well as a habitat forinsects and organisms and afiltration system for water andgases. In this lesson, we learnabout the different componentsof the soil in our own schoolyardgarden, and perhaps what wecould do for our garden to makeour soil healthier.

Soil | page 64SOIL TEXTURE ACTIVITY:

Ask students what the differencebetween soil and dirt is. Are theredifferent kinds of soil? What doesthe soil do?Soil is composed of four mainlayers and its fertility can varydepending on the depth andcomposition of these layers. These layers are a good exampleof teamwork, because bythemselves, they cannot provide aplant with all its needs. Whereastogether, it has proper drainage,moisture, nutrient retention,minerals and soil stability. Ideally, there should be an equalmix of all kinds, which isconsidered a loamy soil.

Introduction

Fill jar about halfway from soils from different areas Number the jar to help keep track of where it is from Fill the jars with water, seal tightly, and give few good shakesPlace firmly on a desk to let particles settle (a few minutes)Measure with a ruler, to measure the depth of the soil sampleLook at top layer, how deep is it? (This is clay)Second layer, how deep? (Silt)Third layer (Sand) - measure and recordDivide each layer's depth by the total depth of the soil sample,modify it a 100 scale to find the percentage.This tells us the composition of the soil, which can tell us aboutits water retention, and overall health of the soil.

SOILTEXTURETEST:

Soil | page 65SOIL LAYERSSandAllows good root penetration, keeps soilaerated, and allows water to flow into the soil.Too much sand however, can allow beds to dryout quickly and nutrients can wash off quickly. SiltBest at holding onto nutrients, what we wantmost of in our soil. ClayGood for water retention. If too much clay, itwill hold too much water and suffocate theroots. Too much clay also makes it difficult forroots to grow in the soil.

FOLLOW UPEssential question recall: What is soil?Why is soil important?What is the soil like our garden? Is it healthy?How can we care for the soil? Journal Prompts: Use essential questions above as journal prompts.

CONCLUSIONDiscuss ways that humans can affect soil and plant growth and howstudents can take care of soil by adding nutrients (mulch, cover crops) andcompost, growing or eat organically, using environmentally-friendlyproducts, not paving over it, not poisoning it with chemicals, keeping lifegrowing in it so it doesn’t wash away.

EXTENSIONS/NEXT ACTIVITIES:Read a story or case study about soil or a farmerwith soil issues and discuss.Test soil pH (for older grades)Test water retention (Put soil in cans with holes inthe bottom and pour water over it. Which soilholds the water better?)

KEY TERMSErosion - the process of eroding or being washed orblown away by wind, water, or other natural agents.Fertile - producing or capable of producing abundantvegetation or cropsCompaction - soil compaction is the process in whicha stress applied to soil causes densification as air isdisplaced from the pores between the soil grains (ex. stepping or driving on soil)Soil Degradation - the decline in soil conditioncaused by improper use or management, usually foragricultural, industrial or urban purposes.Dirt - mainly mineral based; pebbles and finelyground rock (usually cannot support life)Soil - mineral, plant, fungi, and animal based, haswater, air; supports life

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RESOURCES:Video: Layers of Soil (4 mins, youtube.com/watch?v=bgqea0E2eAY&t=2s)Interactive Game: Solitris (like Tetris for Soil,needs Flash to run - seedsurvivor.com/agrium-games/SoilTris/index.htm)

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGESoil, not dirt.There is often confusion between soil and dirt. Although the terms areused interchangeably, they are not one in the same. It is important tobe able to identify the difference because one can sustain life and onecannot. There is ample dirt on Earth but the essential characteristicsneeded to sustain plant life are missing. It’s easy to tell dirt and soilapart. Soil usually is darker in colour and has a rich, earthy smell (andhas lots of healthy microbes). Dirt tends to smell like dust and is devoidof life. Testing the SoilThe standard test to check soil is to dig a cross section soil sample andplace in a jar. Add double the amount of water to soil and shake for aminute or two. When the sample settles, the sand will be on the bottom,then silt, then clay. The organic matter will dissolve or float at the top.If a gardener notices that one is more present in their soil they willoften add more of the lacking layers or more organic matter (compost)to make up the difference. Human ImpactSoil fertility is easily affected. Common daily occurrences significantlyreduce the quality of our soil. Excess water with no plant cover willwash the nutrients away, this is called erosion. Erosion can also becaused by humans, wind, snow, ice, or animals. Walking on soil compacts the layers, and in clayey soil, bind the layerstogether. Compaction makes it harder for seeds and seedlings to pushthrough soil. A healthy, diverse soil will not be compacted, but aeratedby worms, roots, to allow for water and decaying organic matter tocirculate. Not leaving behind any organic material behind at the end ofa season or enriching soil at the beginning of a season can affect thesoil’s ability to support growth. Growing one crop over and over in thesame place, called monoculture, depletes the soil of the nutrients untilnothing can grow, that's why we practice crop rotation. Chemicals infertilizers, pesticides, and run-off from industry and residential areascan also pollute soil, which is very hard to correct.

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