How Does Your Garden Grow? (MS-LS1-5)

Have students collect soil samples from possible garden sites around campus. Encourage them to collect soil from multiple sites, including samples from home, to use as comparison.

Show slide 8.

Preparing the Soil Samples:

1. Have students create a soil solution by adding 100 mg of soil and 200 mL of water to a beaker or other container.

2. Have students use a stirring rod or sticks to blend the mixture.

3. Ensure that students clean the stirring rod thoroughly or use a different stirring utensil for each soil sample.

Show slide 9.

Testing the Soil Samples: Once students understand that soil may be important to plant health, have them test the soil types to determine the level of the nutrients present.

1. Hand out the Soil Investigation handout.

2. Provide each group with a soil test data sheet OR have each group create their own data table (See Soil Sample Test Table below).

3. Based on the specific directions for the soil test kit you have purchased, review the procedure for soil testing with your students.

4. Have students document their process and results using tablets or their phone’s camera if it is a ”Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) approved environment. These pictures can be incorporated into their final presentation.

Show slide 10. This slide contains information about clean-up for the Soil Chemistry Investigation. Add any material- and classroom-specific instructions you may have to this slide.

Show slide 12. This slide is a place for you to provide any class-specific instructions for conducting the research regarding soil and soil health.

Show slide 13. Have students work in groups to gather information about general soil science, soil health, and soil functions. Give students the Window Notes handout. Each student should record important details in the Window Notes graphic organizer. Have them leave the Nutrient Cycle box empty for now.

If students have regular access to technology, ask them to use Google Apps (e.g., docs, slides) to collaboratively fill out the notes.

Have students create an Anchor Chart summarizing their findings for each of the three boxes they have filled in on their Window Notes box. Ask students to summarize the key points to create an Anchor Chart for each Window Notes box.

Encourage them to incorporate information from the soil chemistry data table into Soil Properties or Soil Health. Diagrams or drawings of soil horizons and details would also be helpful on an Anchor Chart.

Show slide 14. Some questions to guide the summary discussion could include:

• What is soil? How do we describe it?  

• What criteria factor into soil health?  

• What are the benefits of having healthy soil?  

• What soil management practices or strategies improve soil health?