Spotlight on Soil
We dig in it, build with it, and depend on it for the nutrients and water we (and plants!) need to survive. It can take hundreds of years to create an inch of this precious resource, yet we often take it for granted — or even worse — treat it like dirt!
The soils in your schoolyard, garden, fields, and other outdoor areas provide fertile ground for learning. Young gardeners can use their senses to examine and describe soils. Older students can compare drainage, composition, pH, and other qualities of soils from different sites, or experiment by growing plants in different soil types. This month we share background information and lesson ideas to encourage you and your soil sleuths.
Background and Lessons
Spotlight on Soil - What is soil?
Building a Lasagna Garden - Build your own 'soil' from a raised bed of mulch, organic matter, kitchen scraps and compost.
Lesson Ideas
Getting in 'Touch' with your Soil - Students explore ways to determine the composition of soil.
The Plant-Soil Relationship - Students investigate the relationship between plants and soil.
Program Spotlights
Sprouting on the 'Sill: Growing Salad in Windowsill Gardens – An interview with Kidsgardening Advisory Board member Gioya Fennelly.
Including All Children: Designing Accessible Garden Programs Using Multiple Intelligences and Universal Design Principals – An article from Kidsgardening Advisory Board member Carrie Banks.
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© 2009
National Gardening Association