soil

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Home : 2002 : January : 21

soil
By Tom Styles

I teach grade 3 in Schoharie NY and I have just completed some soil lessons with the children. Here are some things I did.

I showed a Bill Nye video entitled "Rocks and Soil" to kick things off.

Over the course of the
next few weeks I read a couple of picture books on soil and erosion. I showed yet another Bill Nye the Science Guy video on erosion, each video I followed up with discussion and the next day a review worksheet that I let them work on in partners.
I had some kids bring in different soil and rock samples and I made up labs...brought in magnifying glasses, gram and balance scales, rulers

and let them investigate samples of quartz, coal, and various soils. They wrote up their observations and we shared. We made predictions about what pea seeds would grow better in the soil types we had then I proceeded to plants the seeds in three different soils. Results are not in yet.

Basically I combined books, video and hands on to make some points. My test is tomorrow so wish them and me luck!! Hope I was off some help. Bill Nye the Science Guy videos can be rented, I'm sure at public libraries, as well as any books you may want for the unit. Other materials I guess you'll be on your own.

I'm searching for Valentine Day crafts. If you have any ideas pass them along. Thanks