Lesson 3: Soil Discovery and Decomposers

Timing: Year Round

Objective: Explore components of soil and understand the role of decomposers in ecosystems.

SMART Learning Goals:

• K-2nd Grade: Students will dig and observe two types of soil and draw at least 2 things found in each one in the science journal today.
• 3rd - 5th Grade: Students will compare soil from two locations and write at least 3 observations (color, texture, insects) in the science journal with labeled drawings.

Materials:

• Soil sample containers
• Magnifiers
• Soil layer diagram
• Clear jars
• Water

Activities:

Talk about: Why soil is important and why it is needed to grow things

Begin with a class discussion: Ask: What is soil made of? Is it just “dirt”?

Explain the four main soil components: Minerals (sand, silt, clay), Organic matter (decayed plants and animals) Water, Air

Explain decomposers: Worms, fungi, insects, bacteria.

Explore! Dig and compare soil from two areas

• Dig 6 inches down into the ground and collect dirt from different areas
• Compare things like colors, texture, consistency, etc
• Explain different types of soil to students
• Examine for insects, roots, pebbles, moisture, texture.
• Explain different types of insects native to your area
• Explain different roots and trees that roots that could be found in the soil
• Talk about different types of rocks

Layered jar activity: Students build soil columns and observe layers.

• Use mason jars, glass jars etc so that students can see the different layers of soil
• Use sand, rocks, soil, compost, etc to make the different layers and explain the importance of each one

Discuss the role of worms, fungi, and bacteria.

• Explain why ecosystems need worms, fungi, and bacteria to survive
• Take about what happens if an ecosystem doesn’t have worms, fungi and bacteria

Reflection

• Students should use their science journals to draw or write about what they found and how they classified the objects or living things.

How this activity supports Common Core Science Standards

K–2:

• K-ESS3-1: Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants or animals and the places they live.

3–5:

• 5-LS2-1: Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.

Related Lessons:

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Living vs Non-Living Things
• Lesson 4: Plant Growth
• Lesson 5: Wind Direction and Study
• Lesson 6: Pollinator Patrol
• Lesson 7: Butterfly Garden
• Lesson 8: Seed Dispersal
• Lesson 9: Solar Energy Exploration
• Lesson 10: Microhabitat Study
• Lesson 11: Decomposition Detectives
• Lesson 12: Building a Scale Model of the Solar System

Lesson 3 - How to Build and Teach From Outdoor Science Learning Labs.pdf