Overview

Grade: 3rd

Topic: Earth Science

Standard:

• 3.ESS.1: Earth’s nonliving resources have specific properties.

• 3.ESS.3: Some of Earth’s resources are limited (minor amount on this)

In this lesson students will be introduced to soils, what they are made of, and why they are important.

Format

• Videos

• 3 optional activities for students

• Quiz

Materials

• Activity 1: Earth as an apple

  • • Student worksheet google doc

    • pencil

• Activity 2: Our food chain

  • • Student worksheet google doc

    • pencil

• Activity 3" Life in the Soil

  • • student worksheet google doc

    • Yarn, string, or rope for each student (only if working outdoors)

    • Magnifying glasses

    • ID sheet

    • Shovel to dig up soil samples (only if working indoors)

    • Containers, such as plates, for each student's soil samples (only if working indoors)

Optional Materials:

• You can provide bug boxes or jars. If used, only keep the animals in them for a short time, then return them to the area the were found.

• Popsicle sticks or something else to move the sound around.

• Microscope- great addition if you have one to not only show some of the tiny critters, but to also introduce a new tool to your students. Bacteria, nematodes, and protozoa, are too small to see without a microscope.

Lesson

Video Introduction (10.33)

Activity 1: Earth as an Apple

After watching the introduction video on soil's importance, have students label a pie chart.

• Student worksheet google doc

Activity 2: Our food chain

Students will create food chains for food they have eaten linking it back to the soil

• Student worksheet google doc

Activity 3: Life in the soil

Students can examine and compare life that is found in two separate soil samples. The student worksheet contains a little background information and the directions.

Can be conducted indoors or outdoors.

Indoors: Collect soil from two locations.

• Teacher prep will include collecting the soil from 2 locations and making it available for your students to explore. This will differ with your schools rules on social distancing and sharing materials.

Outdoors: Provide students with a length of yarn/string/rope (about 3-4 ft). Tie ends together to form a loop of yarn. They will place it on the ground and examine the area inside of the loop.

Materials:

• Student worksheet google doc

• Yarn, string, or rope for each student (only if working outdoors)

• Magnifying glasses

• ID sheet - Soil Food Web

• Shovel to dig up soil samples (only if working indoors)

• Containers, such as plates, for each student's soil samples (only if working indoors)

Optional Materials:

• You can provide bug boxes or jars. If used, only keep the animals in them for a short time, then return them to the area the were found.

• Popsicle sticks or something else to move the sound around.

• Microscope- great addition if you have one to not only show some of the tiny critters, but to also introduce a new tool to your students. Bacteria, nematodes, and protozoa, are too small to see without a microscope.

Reminder

Remind students to respect and life they find.

Wrap Up

Set up a Q&A time for your students with your county's Soil and Water Educator. Contact.

Assessment

Quiz Contains multiple choice and one short answer.