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Garden Lesson Plan: Soil

Provided by: The Nature Conservancy |Published on: September 23, 2024

Lesson Plans

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Synopsis

In this lesson, students will learn about the importance of soil health, test their soil for various properties, and suggest ways to improve the soil.
Students will perform a soil texture analysis, test the soil's fertility, and use their data to determine if their soil needs amendments.

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Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Authors: Nature Lab by The Nature Conservancy

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

The hands-on activities will keep students engaged, and they will love being outside working in the garden.
The resource also includes a few resources to help teachers and students build a school garden.

Prerequisites

Before beginning, the resource suggests using the lesson, How Dirt Works, to introduce the importance of soil.
In Step 1 of Part 1 of the Explore portion, answers to the questions are in parenthesis, not in red.
All USDA links are broken. The link to the Soil Texture Calculator can be found HERE. The link for Soil Education can be found HERE.
The link to the Soil Evaluation Handout does not work, but the handout is included in the pdf.
The links for the US Composting Council’s Composting for Educators site and the USDA soil biology classroom activities are broken.
Teachers can find the Global Gardens video HERE.

Differentiation & Implementation

Teachers can create a word wall from the words in the glossary or use these words in language arts classes for word work activities.
After watching the How Dirt Works video, students can write poems using the metaphor of soil as the skin of the earth as inspiration.
During the apple demonstration, teachers can support students in reviewing the fractions math concepts by writing the questions on the board and inviting students to evaluate the questions.
After watching the soil stability test video, students can explore and research the impact of tilling and other industrial agricultural practices on soil health.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world.

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