Classroom Activities: Soil
These classroom activities are designed to complement the Soil topic on BrainPOP Jr.
In the Soil
Bring in different kinds of soil for your students to analyze. If possible, have students use hand lenses and microscopes to see what is in each kind of soil. You can collect soils from a garden, beach, park, or nursery. Have your students record what they see. Which soil has the most rocks? Which soil has the most bits of dead plants and animals? Which soil is darkest, and which keeps its shape longest when you stick your thumb in it?
To extend the activity, have students predict which soil holds the most water. Then have students pour a small amount of water in each soil sample and place it in a warm place. After an hour, have students check to see which soil stayed damp the longest.
What Grows Best?
Bring in different kinds of soil for your students. If possible get topsoil, clay soil, and sandy soil (or even sand). You can get these soils from a nursery or gardening store. Have students plant seeds in each kind of soil and observe how they grow. Which soil is best for plants? Which soil is worst? If possible, try experimenting with different seeds such as grasses, flowers, and vegetables. Different plants grow best in different kinds of soil.
Worm Farm
Some animals, like insects and worms, live in the soil. Worms are helpful to the soil because they mix all the parts of the soil. The worm tunnels allow air and water to reach the soil as well. They also ingest soil as they eat whatever plants, fruit, or compost you feed them. After they eat, they leave behind casings which add nutrients to the soil that plants need to grow. Start a worm farm with your students. Use an aquarium, terrarium, or other clear container. Add soil and worms and have students observe. You can purchase worms from gardening stores and nurseries. Don’t forget to water the soil and keep it damp. Composting fruit and vegetable scraps will extend the lesson even further. Plant seeds in the soil of your worm farm and observe how they grow.
Soil Painting
Different soils vary in color and texture. Invite students to bring in a small amount of soil from their yards or from places around their communities. Make sure they label where they got the soil. Divide the students into small groups and have them compare and contrast the soil. Why might one soil be darker than the other? What might make one soil reddish in color? Where in the community might you find drier soil or sand? Have students discuss and write down their ideas.
Then have students create soil paintings. They can use glue and their soil samples to create landscapes, abstract paintings, or even portraits. Encourage them to be creative! Then have students share their artwork with the whole class.