Soil is a crucial component to many parts of our daily lives. It provides roots with nutrients and materials, provides protection from erosion, provides habitats for many organisms, and helps in the decomposition of organic materials. We will explore and learn how soil is formed, the different kinds of soil, the different layers that make up the soil, and how soil affects erosion.  You will have the opportunity to complete two different maker options involving soil erosion!

 Today, you will get your hands dirty and learn all about soil!

Step 1: We know that soil is very important. But where does it come from and how is it formed?  Soil is made up of four things: rock fragments and minerals, organic matter, water, and air.  Check out these videos to learn more: 1 and 2. Grab a sample of soil in your area and check it out!  What kinds of things did you find in your sample?

Step 2: You have learned that there are many different kinds of soil. The kind of soil can depend on where it is found in the world.  Let’s learn more about sand, silt, clay, and loam here.   What kind of soil do you have where you live?  Collect another sample and follow this guide to find the answer.

Step 3: You have probably been exploring  only the top layer of the soil. Did you know that soil actually has many layers? Let’s watch this video to learn about the different layers. Read this article to get a more in-depth look at a soil profile and what is found in each layer. Thinking about the layers of soil, follow these steps to make a delicious version of the layers of the soil.

Step 4: Let’s take a closer look at how erosion affects the soil.  First, read this article to learn more about why soil erosion happens and what we can do to prevent it.  Explore this fun science demo that gives us a closer look at how leaves and grass can help prevent soil erosion. What other materials could help prevent soil erosion? Decide which materials you would like to test and follow this plan to see how well it works.

Step 5: Be sure to ask an adult to share your experiment on social media using #MakerMonday & #LearningInPlaceTN!



Additional Resources:

More Facts About Soil

Exploring and Investigating Soil

TN State Soil:  Dickson

You are ready to plant your spring, summer, or fall garden. Just think of all the delicious foods you will be able to eat in a matter of months. But have you ever stopped to think about how the soil will help to grow your food? Farmers have to think about this when planting and rotating their crops. The quality of the soil you use in your home garden can also have a tremendous effect on how successfully your plants grow and produce. Planting a garden at home begins with having healthy soil. 

Today, you will explore different ways that you can make and enrich soil for your garden!

Step 1: It’s time to create the ideal soil for your garden. Testing a soil sample is a great way to see if your soil is lacking necessary nutrients. Perhaps you will need to add additional nutrients or change the pH. This article on gardening basics gives more information for preparing your soil.

Step 2: Did you know that adding earthworms to your garden can help to create better garden soil? The tunnels they create allow more air and water to get to the roots. Believe it or not, their “waste” actually adds great nutrients to the top of the soil.  Read this article to learn more about why earthworms are good for gardens. Investigate this demo to get a close up look at the tunnels that earthworms make.

Step 3:  So are there other animals that live in underground that can help the soil?  Read this book to see what kinds of things you will find down in the dirt. Animals such as moles, rabbits, chipmunks, and groundhogs help to make new soil as well as help to keep the soil stirred up by digging tunnels and burrows.

Step 4: Lastly, let’s take a closer look at composting. What is composting and how can it help the garden soil? This article will give us more information. Ever wondered what is happening in the compost bin. Watch this fun video gives us a look at what goes on after we add our composting items.

Step 5: Ask a family member to share what you learned about soil and gardening on social media using #WonderWednesdayTN & #LearningInPlaceTN!

Additional Resources:

Young Gardeners at Work

Make the Most of Composting

Soil Your Undies Challenge

 Kids love to play in the dirt, but adults do too! There are many careers that allow you to be outside and in nature. Maybe you want to study and analyze soil to learn about it's makeup. Perhaps you're interested in finding artifacts in the soil that tell stories of the way people lived in the past. Or maybe you want to find ways to help protect our environment. Soil can tell us about the past, inform us about our present, and give us insight about our future.

Today, you will explore potential careers that involve soil!

Step 1: Ever heard of a soil scientist? Not many people have. This is a rising career that involves the study and analysis of the properties of soil and involves biology, math, and physical science. Check out this article  and video to learn more about what a soil scientist does and how you could get involved in this career.

Step 2: Let’s dig into this next career and discover more about an archaeology. Archaeologist dig to find clues and artifacts about how people used to live in the past. Discover more about archaeology with this video and kids encyclopedia facts page.  Being able to explain the meaning of the artifacts is another important job of an archaeologist according to this spotlight.

Step 3: An environmental scientist uses their knowledge to help protect the environment.  They may collect data for research projects, analyze soil samples, and develop plans to prevent or fix issues. This article will give an inside look at the work of an environmental scientist. Check out these environmental science activities for kids.

 Step 4: Did you know that farmers rely on good soil to produce successful crops? They may have to add nutrients to the soil, change the pH, find ways to prevent erosion, or even use crop rotation to ensure that the good will be in good shape. Check out this site on how  organic farmers can build and maintain healthy soil.

Step 5: Ask a family member to share something you learned about one of the careers using #FutureFridayTN & #LearningInPlaceTN!


Additional Resources:

Additional Soil Careers

Careers in Crop and Soil Science

Find Out more about these careers