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Soils Scientist Immersion - Full Day and Half Day
Overview
Students will engage in a series of interactive workshops embracing the glory of soil, learning about how essential its role is in supporting life on earth through the nourishment of living organisms from minuscule microbes through to epic elephants. Workshops will include science and STEM based experiments, including a longitudinal study that will be monitored in the school over the following three months. Student research using local soils will be added to our NSW Soils map, allowing students to interact with the knowledge that soils vary in different geographical regions. Students will also undertake a creative task using soils.
Curriculum Links
This program supports teaching and learning in the areas of: Science and Technology, Creative Arts, Geography and Mathematics
GE: Environments—Cultural Values– Sustainable Agriculture—interconnections and spatial distribution
ST: Working Scientifically- experiments/investigations –production for food and fibre—Characteristics and properties of materials -how they can be changed and combined for a purpose-Life Cycles—Agricultural Processes—
measurement
Creative Arts: using different medium to create artworks
Cross Curricula: Sustainability
Capabilities: Communication –Collaboration–AgSTEM Knowledge
Careers Education: Careers in AgSTEM
Timing
Full Day : approx 9.30am—2.30pm . (up to 5 workshops depending on the schools break times)
1/2 Day : approx 9.00am - 11.30am and 12pm - 2.30pm ( two workshops and general introduction to soils )
Cost
DoE Schools Full Day- $500/class (Max 30 students) 1/2 Day - $300/class ( Max 30 students)
Non DoE Schools: Full day programs only $20/student. Minimum 25 students
Workshop
Workshop
Citizen Scientists: Soil Science and Plants
Having the correct soil pH is essential to ensure that plants are able to absorb essential nutrients from the soil. Different soil pH supports the diverse Australian flora as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables grown at home, school or commercially. It is important to match plants being grown to the pH of your soil, or to change the soil’s pH to match the plants you want to grow.
Workshop
Workshop
Soil Porosity and Plants
Water Holding Capacity is the ability of soil texture types to physically hold onto water against the force of gravity. This happens through the scientific force of cohesion, where soil particles hold onto water molecules. Experience a cool experiment to test your school soil’s Water Holding Capacity, and learn why this knowledge is helpful for you and for Australian agriculture.
Workshop
Workshop
Soil Art
Historically in Australia, Aboriginal communities have utilized soils in artworks dating from at least 30,000 years ago! Create stunning textured artworks using actual soil to represent the natural colours and textures found in soil horizons. Some advantages of using soil as a painting medium are that it is both natural and sustainable, and you also learn a new style of painting and add to your painting skills
Workshop
Workshop
Soil Bots and Bits
Soil is packed with amazing tiny living organisms called microbes. These microbes keep soils healthy, and help plants to soak up large amounts of water and nutrients through their roots. This water moves up the plant and evaporates through the leaves in a process called transpiration. This process returns water back to the atmosphere. You will see the results of these processes in soils using MudWatts and Microbits.
Workshop
Workshop
Citizen Science: Soil Classification
Some of the key processes in the formation of soils include: the weathering of rock, the build-up of organic matter, and the downward movement of oxidated mineral and salt solutions. Soils form very slowly over time, and generally follow the direction of gravity, leading them to be made up of different layers. These layers are called horizons. Discover how soil horizons present as a soil profile while making your own.
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