Special Feature Lesson:

Soil Sort

Overview:
Children sort through a soil sample to discover what soil contains.

Curriculum Focus:
science

Materials:
ï shovel
ï bucket
ï soil sample
ï large piece of white paper
ï tweezers
ï paint brush
ï covered container

Activity:
Review the More About article. Explain the fact that soil is more than just "dirt." It is a combination of living plants and animals, the remains of dead plants and animals, and materials that were never alive, such as rocks. Encourage children to share examples of things they have observed in soil.

If possible, allow children to collect soil samples themselves, with your help (otherwise, you may want to gather samples shortly before you do this activity). Help children fill buckets with soil collected from a few different places. Try to include leaf litter, rocks or anything else resting on the soil surface.

Tell children that they will be using their samples to explore what soil is made of. Have children dump their soil on a large piece of white paper. On a separate sheet, have children draw a large circle and a large square. Tell them to place living (or once-living) things from their sample in the circle. Other items and materials should be placed in the square. Children can separate the contents using their hands, tweezers and a paint brush. Caution children to avoid handling insects and other small creatures with their bare hands and to be extra gentle with them. Animals can be placed in a covered container that sits inside the circle.

When children are done filling out their worksheets, compare results. Discuss any surprising finds, such as trash. Share ideas about what some of the animals may be doing in the soil. Release animals when children are finished observing them.
 
Extension Idea:
Make a soil collage. Children can use spray mount adhesive to apply a thin layer of dirt to a heavy piece of paper. Then, they can spray mount or glue actual materials found in their soil samples (twigs, leaves, animal skeletons, etc.) along with photos that represent live animals, rocks or other items.