The Scoop on Soil!
Introduction to Soils
Soil is the start of every living process! Plants get their nutrients from soil, animals and people eat those plants, carnivores eat the meat of the animals that once ate the plants that grew from the soil - WOW! See? It all starts with SOIL!
We are going to learn a lot about soil by focusing on these 4 questions:
What are the basic components of soil and where do they come from?
How are the the non-living parts of a soil described in order to name soil?
Why is soil health important and how do we know if our soil is healthy?
What are ways we can build and maintain soil health?
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“The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.” - Wendell Berry, 1977
What even IS soil?
Let's start today by answering our first question: 1. What are the basic components of soil and where do they come from?
To begin, watch the video to the right from the Soil Science of America to start answering this question! Then, we'll talk soil vocabulary
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FAB VOCAB: Learn geologic soil terms using the Quizlet vocabulary cards below!
Dig it up, break it down!
Question 2: How do I describe the non-living parts of soil in order to name it?
Let's take a closer look at some of the the non-living parts of the soil! The non-living parts of a soil are water, air, and tiny weathered particles in different sizes! These different sized particles can be categorized by their size as either sand, silt, or clay!
Soil Texture Triangle:
Geologists and pedologists use a Soil Texture Triangle (see below) to name soils based on their different amounts of sand, silt, and clay.
Watch the video to the right to learn how to separate a soil sample!
NOW YOU TRY!
Create the perfect soil mixture of sand, silt, clay, and organic material to grow your crop in the game below!
The Importance of a Healthy Soil
Question 3: Why is having a healthy soil so important?
A healthy soil provides necessary nutrients, minerals, and water to the surrounding plants to help them grow! An unhealthy soil, on the other hand, is one that does not support the growth of plants! For example, if a soil is missing specific nutrients or is too packed down to allow water to reach the roots of plants, the plants will die, or just won't grow!
There are many reasons a soil can be labeled "unhealthy," so it's important to recognize what characteristics make a soil healthy! Let's take a look at the Hub Farm soil next!!
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Dr. Dirt comes to the Hub Farm!
Question 3 (Part 2): How do I tell if soil is healthy?
There are many observations and measurements that can determine if you have healthy soil or not!
Here at the Hub Farm, we called up "Dr. Dirt," our amateur pedologist (or soil scientist) to help us make some observations in our garden! Watch the video to the left to learn how to assess for a healthy soil!
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Soil Chemistry
Another great way to test your soil's health is to send samples out to a pedology lab! Soil scientists will test the soil's pH, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous content then give you recommendations on how to take care of your soil!
Check out the video to the left to learn how to collect your samples
The Giant Earthworm
There are a few species of GIANT earthworms that can be found around the world! The Palouse earthworm or Washington giant earthworm, for example is a species that lives in the Palouse region of Eastern Washington and North Idaho!
In the video to the right, you will join David Attenborough on an exploration of a giant earthworm in Australia.
Dig Deeper!
TEACHERS: Here are some ideas for activities to do with your class after this lesson!
Create your own compost bin at home with Red Wrigglers!
Paint a masterpiece using soil, water, and a brush!
Play an Online Soil Game from soils.org:
SoilTris: In this game, you will determine the correct amount of Soil, Sand, clay, and organic material to keep a healthy soil!
A-Maze-ing Underground: Create a soil with the proper amount of Water, N,P, K, and fertilizer
Contact DINE (Durham's Innovative Nutrition Education) to request Grow Kits for your students to grow their own veggies and herbs from seed to sprout.
Learn the Dirt Made my Lunch Song!