Soil Life in Action: Bioturbation With and Without Soil Fauna
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Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: June 21, 2022
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This time-lapse video demonstrates the difference between soils with and without invertebrate decomposers.
- Two additional videos and a brief article show and describe how invertebrates accelerate decomposition and why bioturbation is important for soil fertility.
- Bioturbation increases nutrients for plants, aerates the soil, allows for better water infiltration, and improves biodiversity and soil quality.
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology
Authors: The Kid Should See This, Wim van Egmond
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The absence of narration provides an excellent opportunity for students to describe the phenomenon they observe.
- The speed of the video can be adjusted to slow it down or speed it up, which may be helpful.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the concept of decomposition.
Differentiation
- Since there is no audio, have students describe what they think they are observing during the first viewing of the video.
- Have students draw a diagram or picture to define what they think bioturbation is after the first viewing of the video.
- Students could investigate composting on their own or set up a composting bin/area as a class to more deeply understand the content.
- Have students describe the fungi that is decomposing leaf litter in the non-flora chamber and then show students this video about how fungi are vital to plants and this video and article about the importance of fungi for adapting to climate change.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
The Kid Should See This
The Kid Should See This is a Webby award-winning collection of over 7,000 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. And thanks to TKSST members, it’s free and ad-free for everyone. Start conversations, spark questions, and inspire offline exploration for all ages.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
